Active control of the flow field characteristics behind a bluff body by multichannel nanosecond-pulsed discharges

Aiming at the issue of significant reduction in the recirculation zone size of flame holders under low-pressure conditions, which leads to ignition and combustion instability, a pulsed arc discharge plasma actuation method is proposed to induce vorticity increment and high-velocity regions at the trailing edge of the flame holder, thereby enlarging the recirculation zone and enhancing fuel–air mixing within it. This study investigates the flow field distribution characteristics of an evaporative flame holder under varying pressures, electrode spacings, number of discharge channels, and spanwise actuation positions. The mechanisms by which multichannel nanosecond-pulsed arc discharge plasma improves the flow field distribution and promotes fuel–air mixing in the flame holder are elucidated.