What is Transient Plasma?
Transient plasma is a non-equilibrium (non-thermal) plasma that exists during the transient, formative phase of an arc. It is produced by using short, high-voltage pulses, which are short enough to prevent the arc from occurring (typically less than 100 ns).
In a transient plasma discharge, the energy transfer efficiency is high and significant energy goes into creating highly energetic electrons instead of heating of the surrounding gas.
When applied to ignition and combustion, it has several advantages over traditional spark ignition used in most combustion applications. It has consistently demonstrated reductions in ignition delay, lean-burn capability, and the ability to ignite higher mass flow rates, resulting in improved efficiency and reduced emissions from a variety of airborne engines and internal combustion engines.
Transient plasma ignition is just one of the many applications of pulsed power systems made by Transient Plasma Systems.
References:
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S. M. Starikovskaia, “Plasma assisted ignition and combustion,” J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys., vol. 39, no. 16, pp. R265–R299 (2006).
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F. Wang, J.B. Liu, J. Sinibaldi, C. Brophy, A. Kuthi, C. Jiang, P. Ronney, and M. Gundersen, “Transient Plasma Ignition of Quiescent and Flowing Air/Fuel Mixtures,” IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, Vol. 33, No. 2, pp. 844-849 (2005).
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J.B. Liu, F. Wang, G. Li, A. Kuthi, E. Gutmark, P. Ronney, and M.A. Gundersen, “Transient Plasma Ignition,” IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, Special edition on Images, Vol. 33, No. 2, pp. 326-327 (2005).
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C. Cathey, T. Tang, T. Shiraishi, T. Urushihara, A. Kuthi, and M. A. Gundersen, “Nanosecond Plasma Ignition for Improved Performance of an Internal Combustion Engine,” IEEE Trans on Plasma Sci., Volume: 35, 6, Part 1, 1664-1668 (2007).
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C. Cathey, J. Cain, H. Wang, M. A. Gundersen, M. Ryan, and C. Carter, “OH Production by Transient Plasma and Mechanism of Flame Ignition and Propagation in Quiescent Methane-Air Mixtures, Combustion and Flame, Volume 154, Issue 4, Pages 715-727 (2008).
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D. Singleton, J. Sinibaldi, C. Brophy, A. Kuthi and M. A. Gundersen, “Compact Pulsed Power System for Transient Plasma Ignition”, IEEE Transactions of Plasma Science, IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci. 37 (12), 2275-2279 (2009).
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C. Cathey, T. Tang, T. Shiraishi, T. Urushihara, A. Kuthi, and M.A. Gundersen, “Nanosecond plasma ignition for improved performance of an internal combustion engine,” IEEE Trans. of Plasma Sci., vol. 35, no. 6, pp 1664-1668 (2007).