2008 Volume 50 Issue 151 Pages 45-50
Ignition enhancement effect by using a non-thermal (non-equilibrium) plasma generated by a nanosecond high-voltage discharge was numerically investigated. Electron-impact reactions and ion recombination reactions were added to an oxidation mechanism of Methane and Hydrogen fuels in order to consider an interaction between plasma and flame. The results showed that the non-thermal plasma drastically reduced ignition delay times of premixed gases of Methane and Hydrogen fuels and its effectiveness increased with discharge time and strength of the electric field. Moreover, it was confirmed that an efficiency of the non-thermal plasma for ignition enhancement was higher than that of a thermal plasma.