Numerical study on the spark ignition characteristics of a methane-air mixture using detailed chemical kinetics. Effect of equivalence ratio, electrode gap distance, and electrode radius on MIE, quenching distance, and ignition delay

Journal Article · Thu Jul 15 00:00:00 EDT 2010 · Combustion and Flame

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.COMBUSTFLAME.2010.02.021· OSTI ID:21328640

Han, Jilin; Yamashita, Hiroshi; Hayashi, Naoki ^[1]

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1. Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi (Japan)

The minimum ignition energy (MIE) is an important property for designing safety standards and understanding the ignition process of combustible mixtures. Even though the formation of flame kernels in quiescent methane-air mixtures has been simulated numerically, the ignition mechanism has never been satisfactorily explained. This study investigated the spark ignition of methane-air mixtures through a numerical analysis using detailed chemical kinetics consisting of 53 species and 325 elementary reactions while considering the heat loss to the electrode. The simulation was used to investigate the quenching distance and the effects on the MIE of the electrode size, electrode gap distance, ignition duration, and equivalence ratio. The effect of the equivalence ratio on the ignition delay time was also examined. The simulated results showed the same trend as previous experimental results. (author)

• OSTI ID: 21328640
• Journal Information: Combustion and Flame, Vol. 157, Issue 7; Other Information: Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved; ISSN 0010-2180
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
METHANE
AIR
MIXTURES
IGNITION
DISTANCE
ELECTRODES
HEAT LOSSES
SIMULATION
SAFETY STANDARDS
TIME DELAY
COMBUSTION KINETICS
SPARK IGNITION ENGINES
Spark ignition
Minimum ignition energy
Equivalence ratio
Quenching distance
Spark duration