Gas composition measurements in arc heated flowfields via mass spectrometry

Abstract

Gas compositions for an arc heated flowfield were determined by mass spectrometry on gas samples drawn from the flowfield through a sample probe. Surveys were made across the freestream flow using sample probes made of copper and quartz. Oxygen atoms reaching the mass spectrometer ranged from 6 to 9.4% and was a direct function of arc heater current and resultant stream enthalpy. Likewise, mole percents of nitrogen atoms ranged from 13.5 to 19 for total enthalpies of 7.0 to 18.4 MJ/kg. Species gradients existed in both the radial and axial directions. Atomic concentrations were highest near the centerline and at the nozzle exit. Some skewness off the centerline in the concentration profiles was noted. A species survey was completed around a shock that was established by a copper blunt body placed in the flowfield. The results showed strong species gradients following the shock edge, with atom mole fractions highest along the shock edge. Overall, the results provide insight into gas composition by point measurements in arc heated flowfields. The results suggest that nitrogen may begin dissociating before all of the oxygen dissociates and that past assumptions based on frozen chemistry models may be faulty.