A Wind Tunnel Investigation of the Nitric Oxide-oxygen Atom Reaction PDF Download

Author: R. Earl Good
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 72

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Book Description
The technique of upper atmosphere measurements by analyzing the chemiluminescence of nitric oxide trails deposited by rockets was investigated using wind tunnel simulation. The nitric oxide was released from a model into the low density tunnel flow which had been partially dissociated upstream of the plenum chamber by microwave discharge. The radiant power produced was measured separately by photographic and photoelectric techniques under controlled nitric oxide and atomic oxygen concentration flow rates. The tests were conducted at Mach number 3.4 and at freestream pressures between 1 and 10 microns Hg. The geometric shape of the radiating mixing layer contained between two shockwaves was observed and described in terms of the flow rates. The chemiluminescent NO + O to NO2 + photon reaction rate measured by two independent techniques was found to be k = 3 (plus or minus 2) x 10 to the -12th power cu cm/molecules/seconds. Scaling laws were developed to relate the radiant power to the concentration flow rates. These scaling laws were then used to determine the absolute oxygen concentrations in the upper atmosphere from previously conducted flight experiments. Excellent agreement was obtained between the densities obtained by the nitric oxide release technique and mass spectrometer measurements. (Author).