Nanosecond-Pulsed Discharges for Plasma-Assisted Combustion and Aerodynamics

The efficiency of nanosecond discharges as an active-particle generator for plasma-assisted combustion and ignition has been shown. The kinetics of alkane oxidation have been investigated from methane to decane in stoichiometric and lean mixtures with oxygen and air at room temperature under the action of high-voltage nanosecond unform discharge. The study of nanosecond barrier discharge influence on a flame propagation and flame blowoff velocity has been carried out. A significant increase of the flame blowoff velocity has been demonstrated. A decrease of 2-3 orders of magnitude of the plasma-assisted ignition delay time in comparison with the autoignition has been registered. Detonation initiating by high-voltage gas discharge has been demonstrated. The energy deposition in the discharge ranging from 70 mJ to 12 J for propane-oxygen-nitrogen mixtures leads to the transition to detonation at a distance of less than one diameter of the detonation tube. The influence of pulsed surface dielectric discharge on the flow separation for airfoils at a high angle of attack has been investigated within the velocity range from 20 to 110 m/s for the power consumption less than 1 W/cm of the wing span. The conclusion has been made that the main mechanism of plasma impact is the boundary-layer turbulization rather than acceleration.