Electron vibrational energy transfer under MHD combustion generator conditions

• Published in: Energy conversion Vol. 15; no. 1; pp. 15 - 19
• Main Authors: Hawley, C.D., Mitchner, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 1975
• Subjects: Carbon monoxide; Electron molecule collisions; Electron non-equilibrium; Electron transport coefficients; Energy loss factor; MHD generators; Nitrogen; Non-Maxwellian electron distribution; Vibrational energy loss factor; Vibrational energy loss factor; Electron transport coefficients; Energy loss factor; MHD generators; Carbon monoxide; Nitrogen; Non-Maxwellian electron distribution; Electron molecule collisions; Electron non-equilibrium
• ISSN: 0013-7480
• DOI: 10.1016/0013-7480(75)90004-2

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.