Modelling of transient plasma discharges in atmospheric-pressure methane-air mixtures

Results of the simulation of transient plasma discharges in a stoichiometric atmospheric-pressure methane-air mixture are presented. It is shown that current control allows one to produce non-thermal plasma with parameters (the gas temperature, the molar fractions of active species) varying over a wide range. The calculated plasma parameters are used in the modelling of ignition of the mixture. Estimated values of the ignition delay time and the minimum ignition energy are given.