RAYLEIGH PROBLEM WITH SURFACE REACTION AND THE ONSET OF SURFACE COMBUSTION IN STILL ATMOSPHERE.
Abstract
The onset of surface combustion in still atmosphere is studied by the use of a Rayleigh-type fluid model, in which the surface temperature experiences a sudden increase. The only fluid motion is provided by the emergence of the surface mass flux as a result of a simple one-step irreversible reaction. The result provides some insight into the interaction of the surface energy and mass balance and the roles they play in a surface combustion process. From a stability consideration, a criterion of flammability is established for the nonconvective and low-g environment prevalent in the interior of a space capsule. On the basis of this criterion, pertinent parameters for both the combustible material and the oxidizing atmosphere are examined in detail, and the choices of the surface material and the atmosphere in terms of these parameters in order to minimize the fire hazard are discussed. The general result for Lewis number of unity are presented with sufficient coverage of the pertinent parameters that they are expected to be useful for a broad variety of surface material and atmosphere combinations anticipated in most practical applications. An illustrative example using a graphite surface is presented. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1968
- Accession Number
- AD0679148
Entities
People
- S. W. Liu
Organizations
- The Aerospace Corporation