Investigation of flows past a plate in the presence of exoergic processes driven by the interaction between a nonequilibrium electric discharge and a propane-air mixture

Supersonic flow (M = 2) past a plate along which propane is injected is investigated within the framework of the solution of problems of combustion initiation and stabilization at low static temperatures and pressures in the presence of a nonequilibrium discharge and metal and dielectric interceptors mounted on the plate surface. The experiments show that two zones with exoergic reactions develop when a metal interceptor is mounted on the plate. One zone is located ahead of the leading separation zone and the other above and behind the interceptor edge, its boundary partially penetrating into the supersonic flow region. Using modern spectroscopic methods, the radiation intensity distributions of a series of plasmochemical reaction products are obtained in the neighborhood of the plate ahead of the interceptor, behind it, and above its edge. It is found that the fuel is intensively converted under the action of the discharge with the occurrence of a series of free radicals, atomic hydrogen and oxygen which are themselves chemically active.