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Chemiion concentration measurements in jet engine exhaust at the ground: Implications for ion chemistry and aerosol formation in the wake of a jet aircraft
Author(s) -
Arnold F.,
Kiendler A.,
Wiedemer V.,
Aberle S.,
Stilp T.,
Busen R.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/1999gl011096
Subject(s) - jet (fluid) , jet engine , plume , ion , thrust , wake , aerosol , scavenging , atomic physics , physics , chemistry , environmental science , mechanics , atmospheric sciences , meteorology , analytical chemistry (journal) , thermodynamics , environmental chemistry , antioxidant , biochemistry , quantum mechanics
Total positive chemiion concentrations n in jet engine exhaust at the ground were measured using an electrostatic probe. Data were obtained for two different engines (RR M45H and JT9D‐7) for one power setting (half thrust), two fuel sulfur contents (2 and 66 ppmm), and four distances d (1.39, 2.19, 4.19, and 18.6 m) behind the engines. The corresponding plume ages t p ranged from about 12 to 170 ms. As t p increases n decreases steeply from 1.6×10 8 cm −3 at t p = 12 ms to 3×10 6 cm −3 at t p = 170 ms. We conclude that this decrease mostly reflects ion removal by ion‐ion recombination with a mean rate coefficient of about 7.5×10 −7 cm³/s. Our experimental findings have interesting implications for the chemical evolution and potential roles of chemiions in jet engine exhaust plumes. These implications are briefly addressed.