Ignition flame kernel growth under simulated idle conditions

Technical Report · Tue May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990

OSTI ID:6056551

Legutko, T J

The intent of this thesis was to characterize the effects of dilution, turbulence, and ignition system power on early flame kernel growth, and its cycle-to-cycle variations. The experiments were conducted in a turbulent flow reactor capable of supplying a propane-air mixture with an equivalence ratio of 1.0, and nitrogen dilutions of 0% and 15% by volume. The effects of turbulence were characterized using a constant mean flow of 1.25 m/s with two turbulence intensities, 24% and 77% of the mean flow. The total ignition energy of the experiment was held at approximately 60 mJ. However, the power level and consequently the duration of the spark was varied. The results showed that the cycle-to-cycle variations experienced by the flame kernel can be reduced by choosing an appropriate ignition system. For mixtures with high turbulence levels, faster and more repeatable growth rates were observed with an enhanced breakdown ignition system. However, for low turbulence mixtures, an inductive ignition system, even though possessing a slower growth rate than the enhanced breakdown system, showed fewer cycle-to-cycle variations. 34 refs.

• Research Organization: Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AS04-86AL38027
• OSTI ID: 6056551
• Report Number(s): DOE/AL/38027-T4; ON: DE92006766
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
330101* -- Internal Combustion Engines-- Spark-Ignition
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400800 -- Combustion
Pyrolysis
& High-Temperature Chemistry
AIR
ALKANES
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
COMBUSTION KINETICS
DILUTION
DISPERSIONS
ENGINES
FLAME PROPAGATION
FLUIDS
GASES
HEAT ENGINES
HYDROCARBONS
IGNITION SYSTEMS
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
KINETICS
MIXTURES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PROPANE
REACTION KINETICS
SPARK IGNITION ENGINES
TURBULENCE