Numerical Study and Experimental Validation of Minimum Ignition Energy for Microwave Spark Ignition

Microwave plasma ignition has the potential for energy savings and emission reductions, and the minimum ignition energy (MIE) and the lean limit can be determined by microwave spark plugs (MSPs) under the same microwave power. To predict the relationship among electric field intensity (EFI), equivalence ratio (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\varphi$ </tex-math></inline-formula>) and MIE, a physical model of microwave spark ignition is established. The calculation results show that the MIE has a U-shaped relationship with <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\varphi $ </tex-math></inline-formula>, and the MIE value of methane-air is minimum at the point of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\varphi =0.7$ </tex-math></inline-formula>. Then, a novel MSP with three different electrode structures and EFIs is enabled. Finally, this paper presents a combustion performance analysis focusing on the flame kernel, combustion pressure, and composition of combustion emissions. The results indicate that a larger flame kernel size, peak pressure in the chamber and higher fuel efficiency are all achieved under the condition of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\varphi =0.7$ </tex-math></inline-formula> for the same MSP. On the one hand, the MIE of MSP 1 with a higher EFI is lower than that of MSPs 2 and 3; on the other hand, the experimental relationship between the MIE and <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\varphi $ </tex-math></inline-formula> is qualitatively similar to the theoretical prediction under microwave spark ignition in this paper.

[1]  Y. Ikeda,et al.  Extension of Dilution Limit in Propane-Air Mixtures Using Microwave Discharge Igniter , 2017 .

[2]  A. Lefebvre,et al.  Ignition and flame quenching of flowing heterogeneous fuel-air mixtures , 1979 .

[3]  Gan Cui,et al.  Minimum ignition energy for the CH4/CO2/O2 system at low initial temperature , 2018, Fuel.

[4]  Campbell D. Carter,et al.  Direct ignition and S-curve transition by in situ nano-second pulsed discharge in methane/oxygen/helium counterflow flame , 2012 .

[5]  Fukun Liu,et al.  Experimental Study of Influence on Microwave Plasma Ignition Combustion Performance of Pulse Microwave Signals , 2019, IEEE Access.

[6]  Franz A. Pertl,et al.  Electromagnetic design of a novel microwave internal combustion engine ignition source, the quarter wave coaxial cavity igniter , 2009 .

[7]  John B. Heywood,et al.  Internal combustion engine fundamentals , 1988 .

[8]  Antonio L. Sánchez,et al.  Minimum ignition energy of methanol–air mixtures , 2016, 2202.02571.

[9]  P. Gibbon,et al.  Introduction to Plasma Physics , 2017, 2007.04783.

[10]  V. A. Ul’yanov,et al.  Increasing the heating efficiency and ignition rate of certain secondary explosives with absorbing particles under continuous infrared laser radiation , 2019, Combustion and Flame.

[11]  Guixin Zhang,et al.  Experimental Study of Multipoint Ignition in Methane–Air Mixtures by Pulsed Microwave Power , 2018, IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science.

[12]  Richard B. Miles,et al.  Sustained propagation of ultra-lean methane/air flames with pulsed microwave energy deposition , 2013 .

[13]  J. E. Smith,et al.  Comparative testing of a novel microwave ignition source, the quarter wave coaxial cavity igniter , 2011 .

[14]  Min Xu,et al.  Investigations on near-field atomization of flash boiling sprays for gasoline direct injection related applications , 2019 .

[15]  H. Coward.  Combustion, Flames and Explosions of Gases , 1938, Nature.

[16]  Yuji Ikeda,et al.  Research and Development of Microwave Plasma Combustion Engine (Part I: Concept of Plasma Combustion and Plasma Generation Technique) , 2009 .

[17]  Rudolf Maly,et al.  A Fundamental Model for Flame Kernel Formation in S. I. Engines , 1992 .

[18]  Y. Ikeda,et al.  Development of Innovative Microwave Plasma Ignition System with Compact Microwave Discharge Igniter , 2015 .

[19]  Shuang Li,et al.  A Hybrid End-to-End Control Strategy Combining Dueling Deep Q-network and PID for Transient Boost Control of a Diesel Engine with Variable Geometry Turbocharger and Cooled EGR , 2019 .

[20]  S. Starikovskaia,et al.  Emission Spectroscopy Study of the Microwave Discharge Igniter , 2017 .

[21]  M. Battistoni,et al.  Lean combustion analysis using a corona discharge igniter in an optical engine fueled with methane and a hydrogen-methane blend , 2020 .

[22]  Shan Jiafang,et al.  Novel Cavity Resonator-Based Microwave Plasma Spark Plug , 2018, 2018 International Conference on Microwave and Millimeter Wave Technology (ICMMT).

[23]  Y. Ikeda,et al.  Research and Development of Microwave Plasma Combustion Engine (Part II: Engine Performance of Plasma Combustion Engine) , 2009 .

[24]  Rolf D. Reitz,et al.  RCCI Engine Operation Towards 60% Thermal Efficiency , 2013 .

[25]  Abdelkader Frendi,et al.  Dependence of Minimum Ignition Energy on Ignition Parameters , 1990 .

[26]  H. Yamashita,et al.  Numerical Study on Spark Ignition Characteristics of a Methane-Air Mixture Using Detailed Chemical Kinetics , 2009 .

[27]  Y. Ikeda,et al.  Ignition of Propane-Air Mixtures by Miniaturized Resonating Microwave Flat-Panel Plasma Igniter , 2017 .