Vibrational Character of the Hydrogen-Oxidation Process Initiated by a Pulsed Electron Beam

Results of an experimental study of kinetics of hydrogen oxidation in a stoichiometric mixture with oxygen under initiation of ignition by a pulsed electron beam in a closed steel reactor are described. It is shown that the process has an oscillatory character and resembles the regime of cold flames in oxidation of hydrocarbons. Possible mechanisms of self-induced oscillations of the hydrogen-oxidation process are analyzed. It is shown that pressure oscillations in the reactor cannot be related to formation of standing acoustic waves. The most probable reason is the nonisothermal character of the chain process and violation of conditions of chain development with increasing temperature.