Strong Vibrational Nonequilibrium in Supersonic Nozzle Flows

Abstract

A model and numerical code are presented that describe quasi-one-dimensional compressible flows of gases with nonequilibrium of their vibrational and electronic energy modes. Chemical reaction channels are also modeled. Rate equations governing individual vibrational state populations are integrated as a function of streamwise position in a flow channel. Results are presented for flows of CO, N 2 , and NO in supersonic nozzles, and the conditions creating extreme nonequilibrium overpopulation of upper vibrational states are shown