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At least 199 records · Page 11

ATMOS/ATLAS-3 Measurements of Stratospheric Chlorine and Reactive Nitrogen Partitioning Inside and Outside the November 1994 Antarctic Vortex

Partitioning between HCl and ClONO2 and among the main components of the reactive nitrogen family (NO, NO2, HNO3, ClONO2, N2O5, and HO2NO2) has been studied inside and outside the Antarctic stratospheric vortex based on ATMOS profiles measured at sunrise during the 3-12 November 1994 ATLAS-3 Shuttle mission. Elevated mixing ratios of HCl in the lower stratosphere with a peak of approximately 2.9 ppbv (10(exp -9) parts per volume) were measured inside the vortex near 500 K potential temperature (approximately 19 km). Maximum ClONO2 mixing ratios of approximately 1.2, approximately 1.4, and approximately 0.9 ppbv near 700 K (approximately 25 km) were measured inside, at the edge, and outside the vortex, respectively. Model calculations reproduce the higher levels of HCl and NO(x) (NO + NO2) inside the lower stratospheric vortex both driven by photochemical processes initiated by low O3. The high HCl at low O3 results from chemical production of HC1 via the reaction of enhanced Cl with CH4, limited production of ClONO2, and the descent of inorganic chlorine from higher altitudes.

Rinsland, C. P.↗

In Situ Measurements of the ClO/HCl Ratio: Heterogeneous Processing on Sulfate Aerosols and Polar Stratospheric Clouds

Simultaneous in situ measurements of stratospheric ClO and HCl have been made for the first time, during numerous flights of the ER-2 aircraft covering latitudes 24-90 deg N from October 1991 through March 1992. The ClO/HCl ratio is identified as a key indicator of heterogeneous processing both outside and within the Arctic polar vortex. For ClO mixing ratios below about 120 pptv, remarkably constant ClO/HCl values of about 15% characterize the lower stratosphere. The observed values are significantly higher than those derived from a 2-D model using either gas phase photochemistry alone (2%), or including heterogeneous sulfate chemistry (5-10%). During the Arctic early spring, after conversion of HCl into reactive chlorine has taken place, the vortex edge is poorly defined by ClO levels. Loss of HCl and its slow recovery following low-temperature polar heterogeneous chemistry distinguishes HCl as a new and unique dynamical tracer of PSC-processed air.

Webster, C. R.↗

Temporal Decrease in Upper Atmospheric Chlorine

We report a steady decrease in the upper stratospheric and lower mesospheric abundances of hydrogen chloride (HCl) from August 2004 through January 2006, as measured by the Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) aboard the Aura satellite. For 60(deg)S to 60(deg)N zonal means, the average yearly change in the 0.7 to 0.1 hPa (approx.50 to 65 km) region is -27 +/- 3 pptv/year, or -0.78 +/- 0.08 percent/year. This is consistent with surface abundance decrease rates (about 6 to 7 years earlier) in chlorine source gases. The MLS data confirm that international agreements to reduce global emissions of ozone-depleting industrial gases are leading to global decreases in the total gaseous chlorine burden. Tracking stratospheric HCl variations on a seasonal basis is now possible with MLS data. Inferred stratospheric total chlorine (CITOT) has a value of 3.60 ppbv at the beginning of 2006, with a (2-sigma) accuracy estimate of 7%; the stratospheric chlorine loading has decreased by about 43 pptv in the 18-month period studied here. We discuss the MLS HCl measurements in the context of other satellite-based HCl data, as well as expectations from surface chlorine data. A mean age of air of approx. 5.5 years and an age spectrum width of 2 years or less provide a fairly good fit to the ensemble of measurements.

chlorine↗

High-temperature Hydrogen Chloride Releases from Mixtures of Sodium Chloride with Sulfates: Implications for the Chlorine-Mineralogy as Determined by the Sample Analysis at Mars Instrument on the Curiosity Rover in Gale Crater, Mars

Hydrogen chloride releases above 500 °C occurred in several samples analyzed by the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) evolved gas analyzer on the Curiosity rover in Gale crater. These have been attributed to reactions between chlorides (original or from oxychlorine decomposition) and water. Some of these HCl releases that peaked below the melting temperature of common chlorides did not co-evolve with oxygen or water, and were not explained by laboratory analog work (Figure 1). Therefore, these HCl releases were not caused by MgCl2 or soley due to reactions between water and melting chlorides. The goal of this work was to explain the HCl releases that did not co-evolve with oxygen or water and occurred below the melting point of common chlorides, which have not been explained by previous laboratory analog work. This work specifically evaluates the role of evolved SO2 in the production of HCl.

Clark, J.V.↗

Modeling the Uptake of Hydrogen Chloride onto Interior Spacecraft Materials

Hydrogen chloride (HCl) is a major combustion product from the pyrolysis of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) insulated electrical wires, a common spacecraft fire safety concern. Models at two different scales were developed to predict HCl uptake on anodized, chromate conversion coated (Iridite), and bare aluminum surfaces, as well as on Nomex fabric: a macroscopic one-step global surface reaction model where all the active sites are on the exterior surface, and a pore model where the interior active sites deeper into the oxide layer can also be accessed by HCl. Experiments were performed to calibrate kinetic and diffusion constants in the models. A cast acrylic test cell was used to measure the differences between the inlet and outlet concentration of HCl after inserting a sample rod of the test material. For the materials with a thin (< 200 µm) or no oxide layer, the macroscopic surface reaction model adequately predicts the experimental measurements. For the anodized aluminum with a thicker oxide layer, the pore model provided a better match to experimental results. The results will be discussed with respect to the spacecraft fire safety project (Saffire).

modeling↗

Research and investigation of gas dynamic lasers

Chemical mixing laser investigations were conducted (1) to investigate the properties of a bimolecular exchange laser system pumped by the H + Cl2 yields HCl(v) + Cl reaction, initiated by arc-dissociated H2, with lasing occurring between wavelengths of 3.4 and 4.0 microns, and (2) to establish the feasibility of an atom recombination-transfer laser employing recombination of arc-dissociated nitrogen with subsequent transfer of vibrational energy to CO2 for lasing at 10.6 microns. One-dimensional analytical results indicate higher results should be obtained with up to v = 3 to 2 transitions participating. Diagnostic and analytical results show that the reaction mechanism during mixing, a back reaction of HCl(v) with H atoms, reaction of Cl with H2(v), moderately fast V-V, V-T processes, and possible HCl(o) initial contaminant level may explain the low performance. N2-CO2 thermal mixing laser studies were extended to measure the efficiency of transfer of recombination energy in such a nonequilibrium N2 source to 10.6 microns optical energy. The low level of efficiency suggests that V-T decay processes may prevent vibrational energy freezing until much lower temperatures are achieved and that trapping of energy in long-lived electronic excitation of N2 may be a factor.

Boedeker, L. R.↗

Calculated maximum Hl ground-level concentrations downwind from launch pad aborts of the space shuttle and Titan 3 C vehicles at Kennedy Space Center

A quantitative assessment is described of the potential environmental hazard posed by the atmospheric release of HCl resulting from the burning of solid propellant during two hypothetical on-pad aborts of the Titan 3 C and space shuttle vehicles at Kennedy Space Center. In one pad-abort situation, it is assumed that the cases of the two solid-propellant engines are ruptured and the burning propellant falls to the ground in the immediate vicinity of the launch pad where it continues to burn for 5 minutes. In the other pad-abort situation considered, one of the two solid engines on each vehicle is assumed to ignite and burn at the normal rate while the vehicle remains on the launch pad. Calculations of maximum HCl ground-level concentration for the above on-pad abort situations were made using the computerized NASA/MSFC multilayer diffusion models in conjunction with appropriate meteorological and source inputs. Three meteorological regimes are considered-fall, spring, and afternoon sea-breeze. Source inputs for the hazard calculations were developed. The principal result of the calculations is that maximum ground-level HCl concentrations at distances greater than 1 kilometer from the launch pad are less than 3 parts per million in all cases considered.

Dumbauld, R. K.↗

Kinetics of boron deposition by the hydrogen reduction of boron trichloride

The chemical vapor deposition of boron filament is generally considered to be limited by the diffusion of the reactive species to the hot substrate. From concentration gradient considerations and from experimental measurements it is concluded that the product species (HCl) is more likely to be involved in limiting the deposition rate. Comparison of theoretically calculated and experimentally measured deposition rates show that the rate is generally partially limited by diffusion and partially by the surface reaction rate (desorption) of HCl. The relative amounts of surface reaction or diffusion rate impedance were determined as a function of temperature and gas velocity. The temperature coefficient for the desorption of HCl was found to be 52 Kcal/mole.

Mehalso, R. M.↗

Study of the effects of gaseous environments on sulfidation attack of superalloys

Studies were conducted to examine the effect of the gaseous corrodents NaCl, HCl, and NaOH on the high temperature oxidation and Na2SO4-induced corrosion behavior of the alumina former NiAl, the chromia former Ni-25 wt.% Cr, elemental Cr, and the superalloy B-1900. Experiments were conducted at 900 and 1050 C in air in the presence and absence of the gaseous corrodents. Effects involving both reaction rates and microstructural changes in oxide morphology were observed due to the presence of these corrodents at levels anticipated to be present in operating industrial and marine gas turbines. The effect of gaseous NaCl, HCl, and possibly NaOH on NiAl in simple oxidation was to remove aluminum from below the protective alumina layer and to simultaneously weaken the adherence of the protective alumina oxide scale to the substrate. The aluminum removed from below the oxide scale was redeposited on its surface as alpha-Al2O3 whiskers. With respect to the chromia formers, gaseous NaCl and HCl promoted breakaway oxidation kinetics and changes in the microstructures of the oxide scales.

Smeggil, J. G.↗

Electrets used in measuring rocket exhaust effuents from a Space Shuttle model

The study evaluates the use of electrets as a new contamination-detecting device designed to assess the chemical composition of rocket effluents. Evaluation of electret effectiveness revealed that electrets have multipollutant-measuring capability, simplicity of deployment and rapidity of assessment. Advantages of electrets are small size, light weight and cost-effectiveness. It is shown that electrets compare favorably with other HCl measuring devices. In particular, the summary of the measured data from electrets and HCl detectors is within the limits of computed HCl concentrations from the NASA/MSFC multilayer diffusion model.

Susko, M.↗

Computational test of the infinite order sudden approximation for excitation of linear rigid rotors by collisions with atoms

The infinite order sudden approximation for excitation of linear rigid rotors by collisions with atom is tested by comparing integral state-to-state cross sections with accurate close coupling and coupled states results. The systems studied are HCl-Ar, HCl-He, CO-He, HCN-He, CS-H2 and OCS-H2. With the exception of diatomic hydrides (e.g., HCl) which have atypically large rotational constants the method is found to be very accurate to remarkably low collision energies. This approximation should generally be extremely useful for thermal energy collisions.

Green, S.↗

Response of selected plant and insect species to simulated SRM exhaust mixtures and to exhaust components from SRM fuels

The possible biologic effects of exhaust products from solid rocket motor (SRM) burns associated with the space shuttle are examined. The major components of the exhaust that might have an adverse effect on vegetation, HCl and Al2O3 are studied. Dose response curves for native and cultivated plants and selected insects exposed to simulated exhaust and component chemicals from SRM exhaust are presented. A system for dispensing and monitoring component chemicals of SRM exhaust (HCl and Al2O3) and a system for exposing test plants to simulated SRM exhaust (controlled fuel burns) are described. The effects of HCl, Al2O3, and mixtures of the two on the honeybee, the corn earworm, and the common lacewing and the effects of simulated exhaust on the honeybee are discussed.

Heck, W. W.↗

Ground cloud hydrogen chloride measurements from three Titan launches at the Kennedy Space Center during 1978 and 1979

Total hydrogen chloride and gaseous hydrogen chloride concentrations were measured in the exhaust cloud produced at three Titan 3 launches at the Kennedy Space Center in March 1978, December 1978, and November 1979 to determine the degree of hydrogen chloride partitioning in a solid rocket exhaust cloud between gaseous hydrogen chloride and hydrochloric acid aerosol as a function of ambient relative humidity. Moderately low relative humidity conditions were present during a daytime launch on Mar 25, 1978, and high relative humidity conditions were present during a nighttime launch on December 13, 1978. Gaseous hydrogen chloride concentrations and meteorological data, as a function of time after launch, are presented. Hydrogen chloride is present in both the gaseous and aerosol phase in the exhaust cloud. Total HCl concentrations ranged from 18 parts per million by volume (ppm) several minutes after launch down to 1 ppm after the cloud stabilization period, depending on the meteorological conditions. Gaseous HCl concentrations ranged from 2 to 3 ppm several minutes after launch to less than 1 ppm after cloud stabilization. These measured concentrations indicated significant HCl aerosol formation.

Seabacher, D. I.↗

Ion chemistry in interstellar space

The temperature dependence of the bimolecular reactions of Cl(+), HCl(+), CH(+), CH2(+), N(+), NH(+), and NH2(+) reacting with H2 have been investigated. For Cl(+) and HCl(+) rate constants have been determined over the temperature range of 150 to 400 K. Preliminary data have been obtained for the other systems. The Cl(+)/H2 system shows a weak, but significant positive temperature dependence that could be important in interstellar modeling studies. The HCl(+)/H2 system shows a substantial negative temperature dependence with the rate constant approaching the collision rate at low temperatures. The association reaction CH3(+) + HCN yields CH3 HCN(+) has been theoretically modeled using statistical phase space theory. Both radiative and collisional stabilization have been included. The results are compared with experiment with good agreement obtained over wide variations in T and p. This system is potentially important in the mechanism of large molecule synthesis in interstellar space.

Bowers, M. T.↗

Gaseous NH4Cl revisited - A computational investigation of the potential surface and properties

An investigation of the potential surface and properties of the ground state of gaseous NH4Cl is presented. The calculations, which utilize a good basis set and include investigation of the valence correlation effects, result in a description of gaseous NH4Cl as a weakly bound complex with NH3 and HCl structures essentially equivalent to those of the isolated fragments. The charge distributions within the fragments are modifed in the complex, however, and there is a small amount of charge transfer. The results are in reasonable agreement with estimate of D sub 0, super 0 from high temperature mass spectroscopic investigations and vibrational frequencies from matrix experiments. The equilibrium constant for the reversible reaction NH4Cl yields NH3 + HCl indicates that the homogeneous formation of NH4Cl does not represent a significant chemical sink for HCl in the upper atmosphere

Raffenetti, R. C.↗

Product distribution for the reaction of HO2 with ClO

The paper reports the direct measurement of the reaction product HOCl from the reaction of H2O with ClO, and sets an upper limit for the possible product O3, using a discharge flow/mass spectrometry/resonance fluorescence apparatus. The upper limits of the reaction channel producing HCl + O3 are 1.5% at 298 K and 3.0% at 248 K. It is seen that the HCl production rate from the HO2 + ClO reaction could be as large as that from the Cl + CH4 reaction in the lower and middle stratosphere. Thus, this reaction may possibly increase the HCl production rate appreciably and thereby reduce the calculated O3 destruction by chlorofluoromethanes.

Leu, M.-T.↗

Acid droplet generation in SRM exhaust clouds

A free energy analysis is applied to the co-condensation/evaporation of H2O and HCl vapors on wettable particles in open air in order to model droplet nucleation in solid rocket motor (SRM) exhaust clouds. Formulations are defined for the free energy change, the drop radius, the saturation ratio, the total number of molecules, and the mean molecular radius in solution, as well as the molecular volume and the concentration range. The free energy release in the phase transition for the AL2O3 nuclei in the SRM exhaust is examined as a function of the HCl molefraction and nucleating particle radius, based on Titan III launch exhaust cloud conditions 90 sec after ignition. The most efficient droplet growth is determined to occur at an HCl molefraction of 0.082 and a particle radius of 0.0000013 cm, i.e. a molality of 5.355.

Dingle, A. N.↗

Antarctic stratospheric chemistry of chlorine nitrate, hydrogen chloride, and ice - Release of active chlorine

The reaction rate between atmospheric hydrogen chloride (HCl) and chlorine nitrate (ClONO2) is greatly enhanced in the presence of ice particles; HCl dissolves readily into ice, and the collisional reaction probability for ClONO2 on the surface of ice with HCl in the mole fraction range from about 0.003 to 0.010 is in the range from about 0.05 to 0.1 for temperatures near 200 K. Chlorine is released into the gas phase on a time scale of at most a few milliseconds, whereas nitric acid (HNO3), the other product, remains in the condensed phase. This reaction could play an important role in explaining the observed depletion of ozone over Antarctica; it releases photolytically active chlorine from its most abundant reservoir species, and it promotes the formation of HNO3 and thus removes nitrogen dioxide from the gas phase. Hence it establishes the necessary conditions for the efficient catalytic destruction of ozone by halogenated free radicals.

Molina, Mario J.↗