Kinetics of nitric oxide formation behind shock waves

Abstract

The infrared radiation of nitric oxide (NO) behind a shock wave in O2-N2 mixtures has been calculated by two different techniques, and compared with recent shock-tube experiments. The first technique (model I) utilizes the Park model. This model incorporates the vibrational relaxation of O2 and N2 and assumes a Boltzmann distribution of vibrational energy during the relaxation process. Model II uses a master equation solution, employing recently published state-to-state vibration-translation and vibration-vibration transition probabilities. Vibration-chemistry coupling is provided through the MacheretFridman-Rich model (MFR). The calculations are compared with experimental results for shock waves in the range of 3-4 km/s. Results of the two model calculations are compared at speeds up to 9 km/s, for both normal shocks and bow shocks. The two models predict nearly the same NO production rates behind all of the normal shocks, and show the prominent effect of N2 vibrational coupling in the reaction N2 + O —> NO + N. For high-altitude bow shocks, where extreme vibrational nonequilibrium is present, there are large differences in the results calculated by the Park and MFR coupling techniques.