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Sulfur Oxidation and Contrail Precursor ChemistrySulfuric acid (H2SO4), formed in commercial aircraft operations via fuel-S (goes to) SO2 (goes to) SO3 (goes to) H2SO4 plays an important role in the formation of contrails. It is believed that the first step occurs inside the combustor, the second step in the engine exit nozzle, and the third step in the exhaust plume. Thus, measurements of the sulfur oxidation rates are critical to the understanding of contrail formation. Field measurements of contrails formed behind commercial aircraft indicate that significantly greater conversion of fuel-bound sulfur to sulfate aerosol occurs than can be explained by our current knowledge of contrail physics and chemistry. The conversion of sulfur from S(IV) to S(VI) oxidation state, required for sulfate aerosol formation, is thermodynamically favored for the conditions that exist within jet engines but is kinetically disfavored. The principal reaction pathway is O+SO2+M (goes to) SO3+M. The rates of this reaction have never been measured in the temperature and pressure regimes available to aircraft operation. In the first year (FY02) of this project, we performed a series of experiments to elucidate the rate information for the O+SO2+M (goes to) SO3+M reaction. The work performed is described following the proposed work plan. Because we used the H2/O2 system for an O-atom source and rate coefficients were obtained via computer simulation, construction of a reaction mechanism and either recalculation or estimation of thermodynamic properties of H(x)SO(y) species are described first.
Document ID
20030055681
Acquisition Source
Glenn Research Center
Document Type
Contractor Report (CR)
Authors
DeWitt, Kenneth J.
(Toledo Univ. OH, United States)
Date Acquired
September 7, 2013
Publication Date
April 1, 2003
Subject Category
Aircraft Propulsion And Power
Report/Patent Number
NAS 1.26:212293
E-13855
NASA/CR-2003-212293
Report Number: NAS 1.26:212293
Report Number: E-13855
Report Number: NASA/CR-2003-212293
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG3-2674
WORK_UNIT: WU 708-87-23
CONTRACT_GRANT: NRA-01-GRC-02
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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