Compact Pulsed-Power System for Transient Plasma Ignition
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Authors
Singleton, Daniel R.
Sinibaldi, José O.
Brophy, Christopher M.
Kuthi, András
Gundersen, Martin A.
Subjects
Combustion
deflagration-to-detonation transition (DDT)
pseudospark
pulse detonation engine (PDE)
streamers
transient plasma
deflagration-to-detonation transition (DDT)
pseudospark
pulse detonation engine (PDE)
streamers
transient plasma
Advisors
Date of Issue
2009-12
Date
Publisher
Language
Abstract
The use of a compact solid-state pulse generator and compact igniters for transient plasma ignition in a pulse detonation engine (PDE) is reported and compared with previous results using a pseudospark pulse generator and threaded rod electrode. Transient plasma is attractive as a technology for the ignition of PDEs and other engine applications because it results in reductions in ignition delay and has been shown to ignite leaner mixtures which allows for lower specific fuel consumption, high-repetition rates, high-altitude operation, and reduced NOx emissions. It has been applied effectively to the ignition of PDEs as well as internal combustion engines. Nonequilibrium transient plasma discharges are produced by applying high-voltage nanosecond pulses that generate streamers, which generate radicals and other electronically excited species over a volume. The pulse generator used is in this experiment is capable of delivering 180 mJ into a 200-Ω load, in the form of a 60-kV 12-ns pulse. Combined with transient plasma igniters comparable with traditional spark plugs, the system was successfully tested in a PDE, resulting in similar ignition delays to those previously reported while using a smaller electrode geometry and delivering an order of magnitude less energy.
Type
Conference Paper
Description
The article of record as published may be found at http://dx.doi.org10.1109/TPS.2009.2024672
Series/Report No
Department
Physics
Mechanical and Astronautical Engineering
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Office of Naval Research
Funder
Format
Citation
Distribution Statement
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.