This work is an experimental and computational study to investigate the effect of capacitive discharge ignition (CDI) on plasma kernel formation and flame propagation of air–propane mixture. This paper is mainly focused on the plasma formation and flame propagation characteristics, pressure rise, propagation time, velocity field, and species concentrations. A conventional ignition system is used for comparison purpose. A constant volume combustion chamber with volume of 400 cm3 is designed for experimental study. This chamber is utilized to visualize the plasma formation as well as the flame propagation induced from two ignition sources. The experiments are performed in a wide range of operating conditions, i.e., initial pressure of 2–4 bar, temperature of 300 K, chamber wall temperature of 350 K, spark plug gaps of 1.0–1.5 mm, discharge duration of 1 ms, discharge energy of 500 mJ, and equivalence ratio of 0.5–1.0. The computational study is performed by ANSYS fluent using the partially premixed combustion (PPC) model having the same conditions as experimental study. It is shown that the average peak pressure in CDI increased by 5.79%, 4.84% and 4.36% at initial pressures of 2, 3, and 4 bar, respectively, comparing with conventional ignition. It could be determined that the impact of combustion pressure in CDI system is more significant than conventional ignition particularly in lean mixtures. Consequently, the flame propagation rate in CDI system, due to the large ionized kernel around the spark plug, can be significantly enhanced.
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August 2019
Research-Article
Understanding the Effect of Capacitive Discharge Ignition on Plasma Formation and Flame Propagation of Air–Propane Mixture
Kwonse Kim,
Kwonse Kim
Mechanical Engineering Department,
Mississippi State University,
Starkville, MS 39762
Mississippi State University,
Starkville, MS 39762
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Omid Askari
Omid Askari
Mechanical Engineering Department,
Mississippi State University,
Starkville, MS 39762
e-mail: askari@me.msstate.edu
Mississippi State University,
Starkville, MS 39762
e-mail: askari@me.msstate.edu
Search for other works by this author on:
Kwonse Kim
Mechanical Engineering Department,
Mississippi State University,
Starkville, MS 39762
Mississippi State University,
Starkville, MS 39762
Omid Askari
Mechanical Engineering Department,
Mississippi State University,
Starkville, MS 39762
e-mail: askari@me.msstate.edu
Mississippi State University,
Starkville, MS 39762
e-mail: askari@me.msstate.edu
1Corresponding author.
Contributed by the Advanced Energy Systems Division of ASME for publication in the JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESOURCES TECHNOLOGY. Manuscript received December 24, 2018; final manuscript received January 4, 2019; published online January 30, 2019. Editor: Hameed Metghalchi.
J. Energy Resour. Technol. Aug 2019, 141(8): 082201 (14 pages)
Published Online: January 30, 2019
Article history
Received:
December 24, 2018
Revised:
January 4, 2019
Citation
Kim, K., and Askari, O. (January 30, 2019). "Understanding the Effect of Capacitive Discharge Ignition on Plasma Formation and Flame Propagation of Air–Propane Mixture." ASME. J. Energy Resour. Technol. August 2019; 141(8): 082201. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4042480
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