The thermal conductivity of non-polar polyatomic gases

Abstract

We give here a theory for thermal conduction in polyatomic gases which also takes into account the translational-internal energy exchange. The expression thus obtained for the thermal conductivity contains an additional term which involves amongst other quantities a knowledge of Z (the number of collisions required for translational-internal equilibration). We discuss the experimental data on N2, O2, CO2 and H2 and also compare with the results obtained from the theories of Eucken, Hirschfelder and others, and Mason and Monchick. In spite of the large uncertainties in the experimental data it seems that our theory best explains the results.