Numerical Simulation of Electric Spark Ignition in Atmospheric Pressure Methane-Air Mixtures

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Abstract
A model has been developed to describe the growth of an ignition kernel produced by an electric spark in quiescent methane-air mixtures at atmospheric pressure. The model involves the solution of the conservation equations of mass, momentum, and energy in a chemically reacting fluid in one-dimensional spherical coordinates. Detailed chemical kinetics for methane oxidation are included in the equations, along with an accurate method of calculating the transport coefficients. The electric spark energy is added in the form of internal energy; ionization in the discharge is neglected. The temporal and spatial dependence of this internal energy addition can be taken from the current, voltage, and duration of the discharge which produces the ignition kernel being modeled. The agreement with experimental results for arc and glow discharges is quite good.