Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

The chemistry of sodium with sulfur in flames

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5773802· OSTI ID:5773802

An experimental and analytical program examining sodium/sulfur chemistry has been conducted in a series of fuel rich and lean H{sub 2}/O{sub 2}/N{sub 2} flames, with and without added sulfur, and covering a wide range of temperatures and stoichiometries. Fluorescence measurements of OH and Na downstream profiles and sodium line reversal temperatures provided a broad data base for kinetic modeling. Analysis indicated NaSo{sub 2} to be the only significant sodium/sulfur product formed in the lean flames. Even so, its concentrations remain an extremely small fraction of the total sodium. The more important perturbation of the distribution of sodium over its molecular forms results from the catalytic effect of sulfur on the flame radical concentration levels rather than the formation of additional species. A bond dissociation energy of (Na-SO{sub 2}) = 197 {plus minus} 20 kJ mol{sup {minus}1} is derived assuming a non-planar structure or 210 {plus minus} 20 kJ mol{sup {minus}1} if the molecule is planar. NaOS is dominant in the rich flames, coupled with small contributions from NaSO{sub 2}, NaSH, NaS and NaS{sub 2}. Together, these can constitute from about 10 to 20% of the total flame sodium and do represent in this case an enhancement of molecular formation. Preliminary data in fuel rich C{sub 2}H{sub 2}/O{sub 2}/N{sub 2} flames are consistent with this model. This further illustrates the general insensitivity of alkali chemistry to fuel type. 57 refs., 10 figs., 4 tabs.

Research Organization:
California Univ., Santa Barbara, CA (USA). Quantum Inst.
Sponsoring Organization:
DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
FG21-86MC23135
OSTI ID:
5773802
Report Number(s):
DOE/MC/23135-2980; ON: DE91002060
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English