Plasma and Electrically Assisted Combustion

​

The primary objective of the proposed project is to seek innovative approaches to combustion by adopting electrical discharges and/or high electrical potential. Eventually, we envision that the stabilization of conventional burner systems including combustors in gas turbines and improvement in operation.  We shall also aim for emissions reduction in IC engines through plasma assisted combustion technology.

The research will involve experimental studies on laboratory scale burners to increase flame stability and reduce emissions such as soot. Plasma assisted fuel reformer will be developed to cope with the necessity of using low-grade fuels and to synthesize advanced fuel. In addition, computational modeling will play in important role in our research.  High fidelity models for the plasma discharge physics and chemistry and the interaction of these discharges and sub-critical electric fields with combustion processes will be developed. These studies form the basis for the application of plasma and electrically assisted combustion. This project will facilitate a smooth transition from fundamental research to applications leading us to the next step in the realization of practical engineering systems involving plasma and electrically assisted combustion.