TY - GEN
T1 - The effects of repetitively pulsed nanosecond discharges on ignition time in a pulsed detonation engine
AU - Lefkowitz, Joseph
AU - Ju, Yiguang
AU - Stevens, Christopher
AU - Hoke, John
AU - Ombrello, Timothy
AU - Schauer, Frederick
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors would like to thank AFRL and Universal Technology Corporation for funding and the time and expertise of their employees during this research. Also, special thanks to Mr. Curtis Rice and others at Detonation Engine Research Facility for hours of help with setup and testing, and Mr. Andrew Naples for contributing advice and expertise on the experimental methods used in this paper.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2019, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Inc. All rights reserved.
PY - 2013
Y1 - 2013
N2 - An experimental investigation of the effectiveness of a nanosecond duration repetitively-pulsed plasma discharge device for ignition of a pulsed detonation engine was carried out. Ignition of C2H4/air mixtures and aviation gasoline/air mixtures at atmospheric pressure produced a maximum reduction in ignition time of 17% and 25%, respectively, as compared to an automotive aftermarket multiple capacitive-discharge spark ignition system. It was found that the ignition time is reduced as total energy input and pulse repetition frequency is increased. Further investigation of ignition events by Schlieren imaging revealed that at low pulse-repetition frequency (0-5 kHz), individual ignition kernels formed by the discharge do not immediately interact, while at higher pulse-repetition frequencies (≥ 10 kHz) ignition kernels combine and result in a faster transition to a self-propagating flame front.
AB - An experimental investigation of the effectiveness of a nanosecond duration repetitively-pulsed plasma discharge device for ignition of a pulsed detonation engine was carried out. Ignition of C2H4/air mixtures and aviation gasoline/air mixtures at atmospheric pressure produced a maximum reduction in ignition time of 17% and 25%, respectively, as compared to an automotive aftermarket multiple capacitive-discharge spark ignition system. It was found that the ignition time is reduced as total energy input and pulse repetition frequency is increased. Further investigation of ignition events by Schlieren imaging revealed that at low pulse-repetition frequency (0-5 kHz), individual ignition kernels formed by the discharge do not immediately interact, while at higher pulse-repetition frequencies (≥ 10 kHz) ignition kernels combine and result in a faster transition to a self-propagating flame front.
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U2 - 10.2514/6.2013-3719
DO - 10.2514/6.2013-3719
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:85044093628
SN - 9781624102226
T3 - 49th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference
BT - 49th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference
PB - American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Inc.
T2 - 49th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference, JPC 2013
Y2 - 14 July 2013 through 17 July 2013
ER -