Origin of the recirculation flow pattern induced by nanosecond discharges and criterion for its development

Abstract Non-equilibrium plasmas generated by spark discharges induce chemical, thermal, and flow dynamic effects that are beneficial in many applications such as plasmalysis, plasma-assisted combustion, and plasma flow control. Among the flow dynamic effects generated by these discharges, vorticity is of particular interest because it enhances the mixing of the discharge products with the surrounding environment and accelerates the cooling of the kernel. This article provides a comprehensive examination of the vorticity produced by nanosecond discharges in air. Using computational fluid dynamic simulations of the blast wave resulting from energy deposition in the interelectrode volume during the nanosecond pulse, we analyze the various sources of vorticity during the post-discharge period. The non-uniform strength of the leading shock of the blast wave is found to be the primary promoter of vorticity. Other sources, such as the barocline torque, play a secondary role in explaining the overall recirculation pattern. In addition, the discharge cooling mechanisms are also investigated. The cooling regimes and their efficiencies are classified according to the discharge parameters, such as the inter-electrode gap, the initial kernel temperature, or the frequency of repetitive pulses. Finally, a physics-based, non-dimensional number Π * , equal to the ratio of the initial kernel temperature to the ambient temperature, is introduced. A numerical analysis shows that the transition between the recirculating and non-recirculating flow regimes occurs for Π * on the order of 10. This criterion is validated against experimental and numerical results from the literature.