Process of Multiple Channel Gliding Arc Assisted Combustion Near Lean Blow-out Limit

Abstract

Multichannel gliding arcs actuators were designed to enhance the non-premixed combustion of the kerosene (RP-3) and air mixture in a swirl combustor near lean blow-out limit. The instantaneous voltage and current of the multichannel gliding arcs and the 1kHz high-speed CH* chemiluminescence imaging of the combustion process were simultaneously measured to show the characteristics of the process assisted by the plasma. When reaching near lean blow-out limit in a flow rate of 225 SLPM, at the combustor inlet, the emission intensity and projected flame assisted by the multichannel gliding arcs remain the same with decreased fuel flow rates from 3 to 1 ml/min, which assisted by the single gliding arc decreases nevertheless. The flame structure under the influence of plasma actuators with various channel numbers evolves differently owing to the differences in plasma distributions.