Chemically Reacting Gas Mixtures

Abstract

In this chapter we analyze mixtures of relativistic gases in which chemical or nuclear reactions occur. First we introduce the Boltzmann equation for chemically reacting gas mixtures and derive the transfer equations for the constituents and for the mixture. The equilibrium properties are discussed on the basis of the MaxwellJüttner distribution function of the constituents. The non-equilibrium processes in chemically reacting gas mixtures are analyzed first within the framework of a thermodynamic theory of irreversible processes. Next we apply the Chapman and Enskog method and derive the constitutive equations for the dynamic pressure, pressure deviator and heat flux of the mixture, for the diffusion flux of each constituent of the mixture and for the reaction rate density. The Onsager reciprocity relations which relate the coefficients of cross-effects are proved as well as the relationship which shows that the matrix of the diffusion coefficients is symmetric.