The Maximum Temperature and Second Law Analysis of the Shock Tube

The shock tube is a device that is used to obtain high temperatures for a very short time. The core driving force is pressured gas which is allowed to flow to a low pressure chamber, and thus achieve a high temperature. This device has been in use since the 1940s. Initially, the shock tube was used to study detonation. Later, it was used to study chemical reactions, complex flow phenomena, and several industrial applications. Several researchers suggested methods to increase the temperature. However, there is no study on the maximum potential temperature. This investigation was prompted by several industrial applications in different industries such as printing, automobile, and manufacturing.The maximum temperature analysis is conceptually similar to the analysis of the maximum work which can be obtained when two bodies with a different temperature are brought into contact. Here, the semi–equilibrium actually creates the maximum temperature difference. This study solves for the maximum temperature and hence renders a guide on how the different parameters affect the maximum temperature. This study indicates that the typical efficiency of typical shock tube is 3–5%.Copyright © 2012 by ASME