Chapter 3 - CHAIN IGNITION IN HYDROGEN–OXYGEN MIXTURES

Abstract

This chapter discusses chain ignition in hydrogen–oxygen mixtures. It also describes the reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. The chains in chain reaction are initiated by very rare direct reactions between hydrogen molecules and oxygen molecules. They are terminated by the active particles—hydroxide, hydrogen, and oxygen—that are sorbed on the walls. They soon combine with other such particles incident from the gas. In kinetic approximation, the diffusion time is very much less than the sorption time. In the kinetic region, hydrogen atom diffusion to the wall is unimportant, and the limit of the hydrogen atom is determined by the partial pressure of the hydrogen–oxygen mixture irrespective of how much inert gas is added. On the other hand, in the diffusion region, the hydrogen–oxygen mixture limit is reduced by adding inert gas as the diffusion time is increased thereby. The hydrogen–oxygen mixtures have an upper limit as well as a lower limit.