EFFECT OF AQUEOUS SEED EVAPORATION ON COMBUSTION TEMPERATURE AND ELECTRICAL-CONDUCTIVITY OF MHD PLASMAS

Transport properties of combustion plasma seeded with an aqueous solution of potassium carbonate are investigated. An atomized seed solution is added to the combustion products of oxygen and luquified petroleum gas to obtain a weakly ionized plasma at atmospheric pressure. Seed droplets obeying the Nukiyama-Tanasawa distribution are considered to pass through seven stages until eventual evaporation. The electrical conductivity of the plasma has been observed to increase with decreasing mean drop size for a given seeding ratio, especially away from the burner where the seed has completely evaporated. The experimentally measured conductivity is in reasonable agreement with the analytical predictions.