The oxidation of hydrocarbons by water vapor behind high-temperature shock-waves

✍ Scribed by A. Shaviv; A. Bar-Nun

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1975
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 646 KB
• Volume: 7
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0538-8066
• DOI: 10.1002/kin.550070504

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

The oxidation of acetylene by water vapor was studied behind the reflected shock in a single‐pulse shock tube. Computer simulation experiments reproduced the experimental results in the temperature range of 1500 to 2000°K. The kinetic scheme suggested here involves three major processes, (1) production of hydrogen atoms by the sequence of reactions which lead from acetylene to carbon; (2) production of OH radicals, mainly by the reaction H + H~2~O → H~2~ + OH, and (3) fast oxidation of the acetylene and other C/H species by the available oxidants in the system. The experimental results of methane oxidation suggest that methane is converted to acetylene prior to its oxidation. The implication of the experimental results to processes occurring in planetary atmospheres as a result of thunder shock waves is briefly discussed.