Comparative Analysis of Flame Propagation and Flammability Limits of CH4/H2/Air Mixture with or without Nanosecond Plasma Discharges

This study investigates the kinetic modeling of CH4/H-2/Air mixture with nanosecond pulse discharge (NSPD) by varying H-2/CH4 ratios from 0 to 20% at ambient pressure and temperature. A validated version of the plasma and chemical kinetic mechanisms was used. Two numerical tools, ZDPlasKin and CHEMKIN, were combined to analyze the thermal and kinetic effects of NSPD on flame speed enhancement. The addition of H-2 and plasma excitation increased flame speed. The highest improvement (35%) was seen with 20% H-2 and 1.2 mJ plasma energy input at phi = 1. Without plasma discharge, a 20% H-2 blend only improved flame speed by 14% compared to 100% CH4. The study found that lean conditions at low flame temperature resulted in significant improvement in flame speed. With 20% H-2 and NSPD, flame speed reached 37 cm/s at flame temperature of 2040 K at phi = 0.8. Similar results were observed with 0% and 5% H-2 and a flame temperature of 2200 K at phi = 1. Lowering the flame temperature reduced NOx emissions. Combining 20% H-2 and NSPD also increased the flammability limit to phi = 0.35 at a flame temperature of 1350 K, allowing for self-sustained combustion even at low temperatures.

Automated summary

This study investigates the kinetic modeling of CH4/H-2/Air mixture with nanosecond pulse discharge (NSPD) and found that adding H-2 and plasma excitation can increase flame speed. The highest improvement (35%) was seen with 20% H-2 and 1.2 mJ plasma energy input. Lean conditions at low flame temperature resulted in significant improvement in flame speed. Combining 20% H-2 and NSPD also increased the flammability limit and reduced NOx emissions.