Plasma-dynamic discharges in transverse supersonic air flows

Abstract

An experimental investigation is performed of modes of outflow into stationary air and of supersonic flow of a plasma jet developed by an impulse plasma generator using a plasma-dynamic discharge of magnetoplasma compressor at low values of energy deposition. A theoretical model is suggested which enables one to scale the experimental results to the injection of plasma jet into a flow of large cross section. The possibility is demonstrated of using such jets for bulk ignition of supersonic flows of combustible mixture.

Computational and Experimental Modeling in Magnetoplasma Aerodynamics and High-Speed Gas and Plasma Flows (A Review)

“…The erosive plasma characteristic of a pulsed plasmodynamic capillary discharge can also be used to initiate the ignition and combustion of supersonic fuel mixtures [126][127][128][129].…”

“…In works [126][127][128][129], the process of interaction of a capillary discharge with a supersonic air flow was studied experimentally as well as by the theoretical method [130][131][132][133][134][135][136][137][138][139][140]. It is shown that, depending on the initial conditions (the power released in the discharge, the speed of the incoming air flow, the initial pressure in the channel, etc.…”

“…A hole with a diameter of 3 mm was made in the copper outer electrode (1), which is cone-shaped. In works [128][129][130][131], the process of interaction of a capillary discharge with a supersonic air flow was studied experimentally as well as by the theoretical method [132][133][134][135][136][137][138][139]. The maximum velocity of the plasma jet propagation along its axis is 300 m/s (at a pressure of 80 Torr in the chamber) and 450 m/s (at a pressure of 20 Torr).…”

“…At low pressures, when the plasma velocity is comparable to the flow velocity, the jet deflection angle in the flow is close to zero, while at high pressures (at low plasma velocities), the jet practically propagates along the flow and the deflection angle approaches zero. The results of [126][127][128][129][130][131] show that the main parameter that determines the nature of the interaction of plasma jets with supersonic air flows is the power released in the discharge. When the power decreases to values ≤ 0.8 mW (capillary discharge), the plasma propagation velocity decreases, and it practically does not penetrate into the flow.…”