Narrow-band model for nonequilibrium air plasma radiation

A band model is developed for the prediction of radiative transfer in air plasma applications under equilibrium and non-equilibrium conditions. For non-equilibrium applications, the medium is described by rotational-translational and vibrational temperatures but the populations of electronic states can be arbitrary. A specific formulation of the statistical narrow-band (SNB) model is developed for optically thick electronic systems of diatomic molecules when their populations are described by an electronic temperature. Model parameters, deduced from line by line calculations in the Voigt regime, are shown to be also convenient for arbitrary distribution of molecular electronic populations. This model is then complemented to include optically thin electronic systems and the continuum radiation through the simple box model, and line by line calculations for atomic lines. Several tests including equilibrium, non-equilibrium, uniform, and non-uniform conditions show the ability of this hybrid model to provide accurate and efficient solutions for radiative transfer problems in air plasmas. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.