Experimental study on multi-point ignition of NH3/air by high-frequency nanosecond dielectric barrier discharge

• Non-equilibrium plasma ignition technology can improve ignition stability and combustion efficiency. • The ignition and combustion assistance effects of NH 3 /air mixture in CVCC are studied using high-frequency nSDBD. • The effect of high-frequency nSDBD on the growth process of the flame kernels in NH 3 /air mixtures is revealed. • The effect of discharge frequency on FDT and FRT exhibits a non-monotonic variation pattern. Non-equilibrium plasma ignition technology, with its ability to expand ignition limits and increase ignition volume, is considered an important development direction of advanced ignition systems, and has significant advantages in improving ignition stability and combustion rate. This study investigates the ignition and combustion assistance effect of high-frequency nanosecond surface dielectric barrier discharge (nSDBD) on NH 3 /air mixture in a constant volume combustion chamber (CVCC). The study reveals the influence of high-frequency nSDBD on the growth process of the flame kernel in NH 3 /air mixture. As the discharge pulse number (PN) increases, the flame kernel develops from the middle position of the discharge filament to the head of the discharge filament, while there is no obvious flame at the root and middle of the discharge filament. Continuous discharge causes the flame kernel to appear concave and the center of the flame kernel to shift towards the wall of the CVCC. In the NH 3 /air mixture, the initial flame kernels exhibit dissipation phenomenon, resulting in a discrepancy between the number of initial flame kernels and the number of stable combustion flame kernels. As the discharge frequency or pulse number increases, and the number of stable combustion flame kernel increases. The adjustment of discharge frequency and pulse number can effectively control the flame development time (FDT) and flame rise time (FRT) of NH 3 /air mixture. As PN increases, both FDT and FRT are shortened. When discharge frequency is 20 kHz, the maximum shortening of FDT and FRT are 30 ms and 14 ms, respectively, about 55 % and 30 %. The effects of discharge frequency on FDT and FRT exhibit a non-monotonic variation pattern, and it is necessary to comprehensively consider various discharge parameters to achieve the best ignition effect. The ignition success rate curve of high-frequency nSDBD in NH 3 /air mixture is steep. The study results of this paper provide new discoveries and experimental data for advanced ignition systems.