| Abstract: | In this part, a theoretical model for high speed flow of chemically reacting gases out of thermal and chemical equilibrium is presented. The main features of the physical model are discussed together with details for a new form of the kinetic rate coefficients for non‐equilibrium flows and presentation of a two‐layer radiation model used for a plasma torch problem. This model is implemented in a new hybrid finite volume/finite element scheme, which is developed in Part II. Results from this physical model are compared with experiments and other results in the literature for an arcjet and non‐equilibrium nozzle test case. Sensitivity studies are included for the nozzle problem to simulate the influence of the rate coefficients. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |
