Graduation Semester and Year

2010

Language

English

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering

Department

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

First Advisor

Luca Massa

Abstract

Plasma assisted ignition and combustion (PAIC) is a technology where plasma is generated by high voltage, nano second pulse duration and high repetitive rate pulses. The high reduced electric field during the pulse allows efficient electronic excitation and molecular dissociation, thereby generating a pool of chemically active radical species. This speeds up the reaction process needed to generate a high speed flame a very high energy is liberated though the mode of excited electrons to the neutral molecules of the fuel in such a way that the energy sent should not go in momentum transfer but it should be so high that the ionization takes place forming a pool of radicals which will in turn accelerate the chemical reactions.The simulation of flame generated after the oxidation of radicals need their reaction rates and the reaction rates are directly proportional to the velocity distribution function of the excited electrons. Multi term Boltzmann Equation is used in order to determine these electron velocity distribution functions at extreme conditions subjected to hypersonic space flights.

Disciplines

Aerospace Engineering | Engineering | Mechanical Engineering

Comments

Degree granted by The University of Texas at Arlington

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