LAUSR

Abstract The effects of discharge and flow parameters on ignition kernel development time are explored in flowing methane–air mixtures. A nanosecond pulsed high frequency discharge in a pin-to-pin configuration is used as the ignition source, providing 2.9 ± 0.23 mJ/pulse. The effects of pulse repetition frequency (PRF) in the range of 10–300 kHz, number of pulses in the range of 1–50 (≈2.9–145 mJ), equivalence ratio in the range of 0.55–0.65, gap distance in the range of 0.5–2.5 mm, and flow velocity in the range of 2.5–10 m/s are explored. For all conditions, the ignition events are in the “fully-coupled” regime, in which high ignition probability is achieved and locally extinguished ignition kernels are avoided. It is found that reducing the PRF reduces the kernel development time for fixed total energy deposition due to an increased volume of unburned mixture exposed to the discharge. Increasing the number of pulses at a given PRF also decreases the kernel development time, again by increasing the volume of gas exposed to the discharge. The equivalence ratio only has an effect on the kernel growth rate after the discharge, with identical kernel areas measured at all equivalence ratios while the discharge is active. Increasing gap distance decreases the kernel development time by providing a larger initial kernel volume as well as reducing heat and radical quenching at the electrode surfaces. Finally, the flow velocity has an effect on the kernel growth rate at velocities greater than 5 m/s, with larger flow velocities resulting in shorter kernel development time. This is due to the competing rates of self-propagating flame expansion and kernel growth due to convection past the discharge region. The combined effects of all of the above parameters on the kernel area after the discharge are summarized in a correlation equation, which predicts the trends in kernel growth rate based on an estimated plasma area defined by the discharge duration, flow velocity, and gap distance.