STIMULATION OF CHEMICAL-REACTIONS IN SHOCK-WAVES WITH PRELIMINARY EXCITATION OF A SUPERSONIC GAS-FLOW IN A HIGH-FREQUENCY DISCHARGE

A method is proposed for stimulating chemical reactions in gases by pr oducing chemically active particles (radicals, free molecules, and ion s) in the high-frequency discharge initiated in a supersonic gas flow at cryogenic temperatures, in order to then perform chemical reactions in shock waves downstream from the discharge. Thereby, the excitation processes occurring in the discharge at cryogenic temperatures and ch emical reactions proceeding in shock waves, where the temperature incr eases sharply, become separated. This makes it possible to optimize co nditions for both the excitation and production of chemically active p articles in discharges and the occurrence of chemical reactions in sho ck waves after the discharge. Cryogenic temperatures in the discharge are maintained by both the adiabatic cooling of gas in supersonic nozz les and the admixture of a buffer gas to the working gas before the di scharge in order to increase the specific heat of the gas mixture and restrict the temperature growth in the discharge. This method can be u sed to obtain chemically pure elements and compounds from gases, e.g., arsenic and phosphorus (when using toxic substances), ruthenium (when dealing with weapon-grade plutonium), and also to obtain isotopes.