Ignition and flameholding in a supersonic combustor by an electrical discharge combined with a fuel injector

Abstract

The paper presents the results of an experimental study of supersonic combustor operation enhanced by an electrical discharge. A novel scheme of plasma assisted ignition and flameholding is demonstrated, which combines a wall fuel injector and a high-voltage electric discharge into a single module. The experimental combustor with the cross section of 72mm (width)×60mm (height) and length of 600mm operates at a Mach number of M=2, initial stagnation temperature of airflow of T0=290–300K, and stagnation pressure of P0=1.3–2.0Bar. The combustor is equipped with four plasma ignition modules, flush-mounted side-by-side on the plane wall of the combustion chamber. The combustion tests were performed using ethylene injection with a total mass flow rate of GC2H4<10g/s and discharge power in the range of Wpl=3–24kW. The scope of the experiments includes characterization of the discharge interacting with the main flow and fuel injection jet, parametric study of ignition and flame front dynamics, and comparison of the present scheme to previously tested configuration. The present approach demonstrates a significant advantage in terms of flameholding limits. An operation mode with strong combustion oscillations was observed at high fuel injection flow rates. Methods of flame front stabilization based on plasma application are discussed. The technique studied in the present work has significant potential for high-speed combustion applications, including cold start/restart of scramjet engines and support of transition regime in dual-mode and off-design operation.