Laser-induced spark ignition of H2/O2/Ar mixtures

Laser-induced spark ignition of hydrogen-oxygen-argon mixtures was experimentally investigated using a Q-swiched Nd:YAG laser to break down the gas at 532 nm. The laser-based high-speed schlieren system was employed to record flame front evolution for the gas mixtures with different initial pressure or laser output energy or argon dilution. The results show that the breakdown of the gas leads to the generation of ellipsoidal plasma. The rarefaction waves create the toroidal rings at the leading and trailing edges of the plasma, which provides a reasonable explanation for inward wrinkle of the plasma and the resultant flame. The toroidal rings at leading edge decays more rapidly and a gas lobe is generated that moves towards the laser. The hot gas in the plasma induces the generation of the spark kernel. Affected by the very weak shock wave or compression waves reflected off the wall, the initial laminar flame decelerates. The arc flame front interactions with the wall, reversed shock wave or compression waves, rarefaction waves, etc. induce the transition from laminar flame to turbulent one. These induce the transition from laminar flame to turbulent flame. For stoichiometric hydrogen-oxygen mixtures diluted by 76.92% argon at an initial pressure of 53.33 kPa, the minimum output energy of the laser is 15 mJ for successful laser-induced spark ignition. With increasing initial pressure or the output energy of the laser, or decreasing argon dilution, the speed of the flame front increases.