Electron vibrational energy transfer under MHD combustion generator conditions

Abstract

An analysis of the energy transfer rate between an electron gas and the vibrational modes of diatomic gases has been made. The electron vibrational energy transfer rate may be characterized by δ v , the electron vibrational energy loss factor. For MHD combustion generator conditions, the electron vibrational energy transfer rate dominates and δ v is approximately equal to δ, the total electron energy loss factor. Detailed numerical predictions have been obtained for N 2 and CO. These results indicate that the energy transfer rate is strongly dependent upon the electron velocity distribution function. In particular, for a Maxwellian electron distribution function (which prevails in MHD combustion generators) δ v has been found to exceed published experimental values of δ by a factor as large as 50 for N 2. Consideration of the conditions under which the experimental values of δ were obtained shows that the electron distribution function was non-Maxwellian. An analytical re-determination of δ v and δ, using appropriate non-Maxwellian distribution functions, resolves the discrepancy between the calculated values of δ v and the measured values of δ.