Acetone PLIF visualization of the fuel distribution at plasma-enhanced supersonic combustion

This study examines the mixing and flameholding characteristics of a plasma stabilized planewall supersonic combustor. Fuel injection, ignition, and flameholding are provided by Plasma Injection Modules (PIMs) installed in a M = 2, 76.2 x 76.2 mm duct. Two configurations were explored: the first involves a plasma filament collocated within a single transverse fuel jet, while the second involves combustion stabilization using a series of three PIMs. Unburned fuel distributions were assessed with acetone planar laser induced fluorescence (PLIF), where acetone vapor was seeded into the gaseous fuel. PLIF measurements were performed for both streamwise and spanwise laser sheet orientations. Supporting datasets were collected including schlieren imaging, chemiluminescent imaging, and pressure distributions. PIM actuation is found to increase jet penetration, crossflow expansion, and initiate fuel jet breakup. The average jet cross sectional area is shown to increase by > 20% with the addition of plasma. PLIF imaging at PIM stabilized combustion revealed a significant unburned fuel concentration in a local separation region near the PIMs, and identified the minimum plasma pulse duration for flowfield transition from initial conditions to the combustion pattern.

Automated summary

This study investigates the mixing and flameholding characteristics of a plasma stabilized planewall supersonic combustor. Fuel injection, ignition, and flameholding are achieved using Plasma Injection Modules (PIMs). Experimental results show that PIM actuation increases jet penetration, crossflow expansion, and initiates fuel jet breakup, leading to an increase in jet cross sectional area by over 20% when plasma is added.