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ACTA AERONAUTICAET ASTRONAUTICA SINICA >

2026 , Vol. 47 >Issue 13: 533221 - 533221

DOI: https://doi.org/10.7527/S1000-6893.2026.33221

Special Issue: Flow Control and Thermal Management

Mechanism and evaluation of plasma chemical effects in laser ignition process

  • Mu LI ,
  • Liguo LIN ,
  • Feng GUI ,
  • Hong YAN ,
  • Fuzhen CHEN ,
  • Fan LIU
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  • 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
E-mail： liufan1990@outlook.com

Received date: 2025-12-10

  Revised date: 2025-12-24

  Accepted date: 2026-02-03

  Online published: 2026-02-27

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

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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

Cite this article

Mu LI , Liguo LIN , Feng GUI , Hong YAN , Fuzhen CHEN , Fan LIU . Mechanism and evaluation of plasma chemical effects in laser ignition process[J]. ACTA AERONAUTICAET ASTRONAUTICA SINICA, 2026 , 47(13) : 533221 -533221 . DOI: 10.7527/S1000-6893.2026.33221

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