Investigation of Q-DC discharge influence on fuel jet mixing with supersonic airflow

Abstract

This paper presents the results of experimental study of plasma-based actuator for mixing of the fuel with air in a supersonic flow. The long unsteady plasma filament of Q-DC electrical discharge is located along the fuel jet from a wall-arranged supersonic injector with a wall-normal direction of injection. The location of plasma filament over the fuel jet was controlled by using the nozzle of injector as one of discharge electrodes. Three different gases were tested for simulation of fuel injection: air, CO2 and C2H4. It was found that the discharge position in respect of the fuel jet significantly depends on the injected gas. The activation of discharge within all injected gases results in development of fluid instability at fuel-air interface which leads to the mixing enhancement.