What is it about?
Breakdown is needed to start combustion in engines. A classical approach is that high voltages are delivered either by a capacitor or a coil (capacitive or inductive ignition system). However, an alternative ignition approache is based on extrimely short voltage pulses in the range of tens of nanoseconds, which are deliverd by a solid-state pulse generator. It has been experimentally shown, that such an ignition system is able to ignite hard-to-ignite mixtures (e.g. a highly diluted air/fuel mixture) much more robust than classical approaches. At comparably slow voltage rise rates, the breakdown models are well established. When using the extremely short pulses with very high voltage rise rates, these classical models do not correctly predict breakdown probabilities. Here, we have established a new method which predicts the overvoltage. In addition, the influence of the electrode material is shown.
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Why is it important?
Developing a new ignition approach needs the full understanding of the whole chain: from voltage creation, to energy transfer to the igniter, breakdown and the onset of the early flame. Only if all these steps are modeled and verified, a fully system optimization can be performed. This work advances the state of knowledge in the field of breakdown modeling.
Perspectives
Having reliable and precise models available enables a full ignition system optimization. Vice verse, this knowledge can also be used in fields where breakdown has to be avoided, for example in energy transmission or electric switching.
Dr.sc.techn. ETH Patrik Soltic
Empa
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Breakdown of synthetic air under nanosecond pulsed voltages in quasi-uniform electric fields, IEEE Access, January 2022, Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers (IEEE),
DOI: 10.1109/access.2022.3175460.
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