Kinetic Studies of Nonequilibrium Plasma-Assisted Combustion

摘要

This project focuses on an integrated experimental/modeling study of hydrocarbon oxidation mechanisms under conditions of extreme thermal non- equilibrium. Large, and highly nonequilibrium, initial pools of important hydrocarbon combustion intermediate and electronically excited air species are created in a short pulsed fuel-air plasmas, created using approx 10-20 nsec duration - high (approx 20 kV) voltage pulsers, capable of operation at repetition rates as high as 40-50 kHz. The time evolution of critical species and temperature, after application of a single nanosecond discharge pulse, or a rapid 'burst' of pulses, depending upon the experiment, are experimentally determined using advanced laser-based optical diagnostic methods. Results are compared to theoretical predictions from discharge and plasma chemical kinetic codes, developed as part of this program, in order to provide model validation and to improve understanding of fundamental nonequilibrium plasma kinetics in air and air/fuel mixtures.