Acceleration of DDT by non-thermal plasma in a single-trial detonation tube

This paper compares the flame acceleration in single-trial dual-detonation tubes triggered by a spark plug and non-thermal plasma igniter. The low-temperature plasma was generated by an in-house novel AC-driven dielectric barrier discharge igniter, which reduces the power supply requirements and was applied in the quiescent ignition of a single-trial detonation tube. Three different types of detonation mixtures were tested with flame propagation tracked by ion probes and pressure waves recorded by high-frequency pressure transducers. The flame propagation speeds were calculated and compared based on signals from the ion probes. The detonation combustion succeeded in the dual tubes, but the deflagration-to-detonation transition could be significantly accelerated by the plasma for all mixtures, as it was shortened by more than 50% compared to that of the spark plug. The present study provides a suitable technological approach for igniters of PDEs.