Numerical Investigation of Corona-Assisted Ignition in Hydrogen Engines: Toward Cleaner and More Efficient Combustion

Abstract This study presents a computational investigation into the integration of a corona discharge ignition system in hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engines. Using ANSYS Fluent simulations, combustion behavior under corona and conventional spark ignition was compared across hydrogen and gasoline fuels. Key parameters such as peak temperature, total energy release, and pressure dynamics were evaluated under lean-burn conditions. Results show that corona ignition significantly enhances hydrogen combustion, achieving peak temperatures of 1902 K (≈26% higher than spark ignition) and an energy release of 21 MJ/kg (≈116% higher than spark ignition), dramatically outperforming conventional ignition. Corona discharge promotes volumetric energy deposition, faster flame propagation, and greater thermal stability, making it suitable for ultra-lean and high-pressure hydrogen applications. For gasoline combustion, corona ignition exhibited a smoother and more uniform combustion profile, although spark ignition achieved slightly higher peak temperatures. The findings affirm corona ignition's superiority in hydrogen based applications and its viability in enhancing ignition reliability and efficiency in modern engine systems.