Electron Transport Coefficients in Nonequilibrium Plasmas of Water Vapor and Fuel–Oxygen Mixtures

Abstract

The electron transport coefficients in weakly ionized nonuniform nonequilibrium plasmas of water vapor and fuel–oxygen mixtures are calculated as functions of the degree of fuel oxidation. The calculations are performed for hydrogen and hydrocarbon fuels. It is shown that the production of water vapor during fuel oxidation strongly affects the electron transport coefficients. Using the calculated coefficients, the parameter ranges are determined in which thermocurrent instability can develop in the gas mixtures under study. The domain of reduced electric fields at which this instability develops extends with increasing the degree of fuel oxidation and becomes the largest under complete fuel oxidation.