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Acta Aeronautica et Astronautica Sinica ›› 2026, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (13): 533221.doi: 10.7527/S1000-6893.2026.33221

• Special Issue: Flow Control and Thermal Management • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Mechanism and evaluation of plasma chemical effects in laser ignition process

Mu LI1,2, Liguo LIN1,2, Feng GUI1,3, Hong YAN1,2,4,5, Fuzhen CHEN1,2,4,5, Fan LIU1,2,4,5()   

  1. 1.School of Power and Energy,Northwestern Polytechnical University,Xi’an 710072,China
    2.Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Internal Aerodynamics in Aero-Engine,Northwestern Polytechnical University,Xi’an 710072,China
    3.AECC Sichuan Gas Turbine Research Establishment,Chengdu 610500,China
    4.Science and Technology on Altitude Simulation Laboratory,Xi’an 710072,China
    5.Advanced Power Research Institute of Northwestern Polytechnical University,Chengdu 610299,China
  • Received:2025-12-10 Revised:2025-12-24 Accepted:2026-02-03 Online:2026-03-24 Published:2026-02-27
  • Contact: Fan LIU E-mail:liufan1990@outlook.com
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China(12172298);Practice and Innovation Funds for Graduate Students of Northwestern Polytechnical University(PF2025058);Sichuan Science and Technology Program(2024NSFSC0122);Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities

Abstract:

Laser ignition technology has received widespread attention in aerospace power systems due to its flexible positioning, high energy density, and fast heat release rate. It mainly relies on the aerodynamic, thermal, and chemical effects of plasma. This article is based on laser ignition experiments conducted in a constant volume combustion chamber of methane/air mixture. The focus is on studying the flame propagation characteristics of single pulse laser-induced ignition, analyzing the influence of laser pulse energy on ignition and flame propagation characteristics, and conducting numerical simulation studies to evaluate the influence of plasma chemical effects. Research has found that the initial flame nucleus exhibits a “three lobed structure”, which is very similar to the vortex ring structure formed by laser-induced air breakdown, verifying the important role of plasma aerodynamic effects in ignition and thermonuclear development. Further comparative analysis was conducted on the development characteristics of ignition flame nuclei with and without chemical effects. The results showed that compared to the aerodynamic and thermal effects of plasma, chemical effects had little effect on the development of flame nuclei.

Key words: laser ignition, plasma, flame propagation, air ionization, chemical effects

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