Low energy compact power modulators for transient plasma ignition

In this paper recent studies of compact power modulators, used to produce nonequilibrium plasma in the transient, formative phase of an arc, and applied to ignition of a quiescent fuel-air mixture in a constant-volume reactor, are reported. In this work, ignition delays produced by transient plasma were measured and compared in pre-mixed C₂H₄-air at atmospheric pressure. Two compact power modulators studied included; 1) a 54 ns pseudospark switched line-type power modulator that delivered 365 mJ per pulse, and 2) a 12 ns SCR-switched magnetic compression based power modulator that delivered 75 mJ per pulse. Despite the difference in energy delivered, both systems achieved similar ignition delays across a broad range of fuel-air equivalence ratios, and produced ignition delays up to two times shorter than those produced using traditional spark ignition. The results indicate that lower energy and therefore more compact power modulators may be used for this application.