THEORY OF NON-EQUILIBRIUM IONIZATION IN WET ALKALI METAL VAPORS-CONTINUOUS CHANGING MODEL.
Abstract
A theory for non-equilibrium ionization in wet alkali metal vapor is formulated. The media is considered to consist of electrons, neutral gas atoms, positively charged atomic ions, and charged vapor droplets. The degree of ionization of the gas atoms is assumed to be given by Saha's Law evaluated at the electron temperature while the degree of charging of the vapor droplets is obtained by equating the random electron current in the gas to the thermionic emission current of the vapor droplet at its internal temperature. The electron temperature is determined by equating the Joule heating rate of the electrons to their rate of energy loss due to elastic electron-atom, electron-ion, and electron-droplet collisions and inelastic electron-droplet collisions. The droplet internal temperature is determined by equating the rate of droplet heating due to electron bombardment to the rate of cooling due to atom and ion bombardment. The above theory is applied to MHD generator considerations for which the predominate effect of the droplets is found to be the absorption of free electrons from the system accompanied by an increase in magnetic field requirements. The depression of electron density is found to be most severe at high percent moisture and for small droplets. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1964
- Accession Number
- AD0608093
Entities
People
- John M. Smith
Organizations
- General Electric