Recent progress of combustion efficiency increase assisted with plasma

Plasma-assisted combustion is a promising technology to enhance overall engine performance. Lots of research have already been done to understand plasma-assisted combustion with many important discoveries. This paper reviews the mechanism of plasma-assisted combustion and its potential applications. Three main ways of enhancing efficiency are concluded in this paper: improve fuel mixing, radical production, and increase local temperature. Some of the applications are discussed such as flame stabilization in gas turbine, better fuel mixing for scramjet engines, and a more complete fuel oxidation for aerospace engines. Lastly, the paper summarized some of the difficulties and limitations such as high energy output and potential increase of NOx. Future directions and some possible solutions are also discussed.