Hydrocarbon combustion enhancement by applied electric field and plasma kinetics

Hydrocarbon flame speed and flame structure modifications have been studied using a low dc applied electric field opposing the gas flow directions. Our electrode configuration leads to a relatively high conduction current with a low applied voltage drop in the flame that permits to collect ∼1011 cm-3 chemi-ion density at the pre-heat flame zone, which seems to simulate DBDs and other plasma assisted combustion enhancement conditions. The dissociative recombination of major positive chemi-ions H3O+ and HCO+ produces 1011 cm-3 H, O and OH radicals modifying both combustion kinetics and fluidics. Also, flame electrical conductivity measurement was found to correlate very well with the CH, OH and C2 chemiluminescence intensity fluctuations