Edge flame propagation via parallel electric fields in nonpremixed coflow jets

Abstract

Recent investigations suggested that the primary influence of an electric field on a flame is flow modification caused by ionic wind, and that negative ions produced by the electron impact attachment should play a key role in the bi-directional ionic wind. In order to prove this hypothesis in electric fields parallel to the propagating flames, we designed a coflow experiment with laminar lifted flames in vertical electric fields produced by a nozzle and ground electrode installed over the flame. We found that applying DC and AC increased the flame displacement speed, and decreased the unburned velocity even to negative velocity. Velocity measurements revealed the influence of the electric body force on the flow volume, indicating the importance of the electron impact attachment when the nozzle was charged with positive voltage. The flame propagation speeds were estimated by subtracting the unburned velocity from the displacement speed, and were well correlated with those of stationary lifted flames without an applied electric field as a function of flame curvature. This supported our hypothesis that the effect of the electric field is reflected in the flow modification, and that the flame is affected by the modified flow. It also suggested that the propagation direction of premixed or nonpremixed edge flames can be manipulated by coupling the appropriate electric fields.