NOx Production by Atmospheric Discharges

DeSilva该项目将使用配备了大量诊断设备的现有设备，通过实验室放电的方法研究自然闪电中NOx的产生，放电参数类似于大气闪电。该程序将对密度、温度、发射辐射和NOx浓度的实验测量结果与随时间变化的数值模拟进行比较，其中包括流体动力学膨胀、所产生的冲击波、电离速率方程和相关反应的化学速率方程。模拟的初步结果表明，每焦耳产生的NO量(P)取决于堆芯中的能量密度和环境压力。第一年的资金将用于启动实验计划，以验证核心能量密度和环境压力对P的依赖关系，并改进计算机模拟程序。在接下来的几年中，将研究影响核心半径、能量沉积以及因此能量密度的影响。

DeSilva This project will study the production of NOx in natural lightning by means of laboratory discharges with parameters similar to atmospheric lightning, using an existing apparatus equipped with a large array of diagnostics. The procedure will be to compare experimental measurements of densities, temperatures, emitted radiation, and NOx concentration with a time-dependent numerical simulation which includes the fluid dynamic expansion, the resulting shock wave, the ionization rate equations and the chemical rate equations for relevant reactions. Initial results from the simulation show that the amount on NO produced per Joule (P) depends on the energy density in the core and on the ambient pressure. First year funds will be used to initiate the experimental program in order to verify the core energy density and ambient pressure dependence of P and to improve the computer simulation code. In succeeding years, the effects that influence the core radius, energy deposition, and hence energy density will be investigated.