Combustion dynamics of plasma-enhanced premixed and nonpremixed flames

Xing Rao, Steve Hammack, Tonghun Lee, Campbell Carter, Igor B. Matveev

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Combustion dynamics are investigated for plasma-enhanced methaneair flames in premixed and nonpremixed configurations using a transient arc dc plasmatron. Planar laser-induced fluorescence images of hydroxyl (OH) and carbon monoxide (CO) radicals are obtained over a range of equivalence ratios ($ \phi = 0.7 {-} 1.3$), flow rates (618 LPM), and plasma powers (100900 mA) to monitor radical propagation and in situ fuel reforming. The flow rates presented here are outside the range of normal flame stability. In the nonpremixed mode, the fuel is injected separately as a coflow around the plasma discharge, resulting in a unique two-cone flame front geometry, and the flame stability is mainly dependent on the flow dynamics. For premixed flames, partial oxidation occurs inside the chamber, resulting in higher energy conversion efficiencies, and stability is shown to be sensitive to the combustion chemistry. Both configurations are significantly influenced by in situ fuel reforming at higher plasma powers.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number5624645
Pages (from-to)3265-3271
Number of pages7
JournalIEEE Transactions on Plasma Science
Volume38
Issue number12 PART 1
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2010
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Carbon monoxide
  • fuel reforming
  • hydroxyl
  • laser induced fluorescence
  • plasma assisted combustion
  • premixed and nonpremixed flame

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Nuclear and High Energy Physics
  • Condensed Matter Physics

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