Clean Advanced Lean-Premixed Turbulent Combustion Science and Technology: Ignition Measurement and Analysis by Nanosecond Repetitively Pulsed Discharges(2/3)

This proposal is a quantitative ignition measurement research of advanced high-pressure, high-temperature, high-turbulent intensity lean premixed turbulent combustion using nanosecond repetitively pulsed discharges (NRPD). In recent years, under either laminar flow or flows with mean velocities at normal pressure and temperature conditions (1 atm and 298 K), non-equilibrium plasma-assisted NRPD ignition studies had significant progresses. These results substantiated the feasibility of the ultra-lean combustion, provided that an appropriate pulse repetitive frequency (PRF) could be synchronized with the characteristic recirculation frequency of the initial toroidal kernel to generate a cumulatively synergistic ignition effect which could effectively increase ignition probability and extend the lean flammability. Even though the ultra-lean combustion has been recognized as a high-efficiency and low NOx clean combustion technology, there is still no available NRPD experimental results under high-pressure, high-temperature, high-turbulent intensity conditions in literatures. How to develop a robust NRPD ignition device that can be safely and stably used in high-pressure, high-temperature, high-turbulent intensity environment is one of the major challenges for the international combustion community. Hence, this three-year proposal is to develop an advanced NRPD ignition and combustion technology based on an already-established large high-pressure, high-temperature, high-turbulent intensity, double-chamber premixed combustion facility. We plan to measure minimum ignition energies of various gaseous and liquid fuels (i.e. hydrogen, syngas, methane, propane, butane, gasoline primary reference fuel (mainly iso-octane and n-heptane), ultra-lean flammability limits, laminar and turbulent burning velocities, and NOx emissions of burned products. This proposal should be of both academic and applied importance and it will be useful for the further development of high-efficiency gas turbines and aviation/auto engines with low NOx emissions. The goal is to obtain the frontier results in the related field and publish them in Combustion and Flame and Proceedings of the Combustion Institute.