Auto-driven plasma actuator for transition from deflagration to detonation combustion regime and method

A method for driving an engine that uses detonation for generating energy, the method comprising:

• injecting a fuel mixture at an inlet, into an ignition region of a housing;
• igniting the fuel mixture with an ignitor located in the ignition region;
• applying nanosecond repetitive voltage pulses with an amplitude smaller than a threshold breakdown voltage of the fuel mixture to the ignited fuel mixture, with a pair of electrodes located in a deflagration to detonation, DDT, region, which is in fluid communication and downstream from the ignition region;
• and
• initiating a detonation of a combustion front in a detonation region, within the housing, which is in fluid communication and downstream from the DDT region,
• wherein the nanosecond repetitive voltage pulses generate a non-thermal plasma that initiate a transition of the combustion front propagation, of the ignited fuel mixture, through the housing from a deflagration mode to a detonation mode, wherein a pressure wave moves ahead of the combustion front in the DDT region, and wherein the nanosecond repetitive voltage pulses are applied between the combustion front and the pressure wave or are applied into the combustion front itself.

An auto-driven plasma actuator control system comprising:

• a pulser configured to generate nanosecond repetitive voltage pulses;
• a pair of electrodes to be located in a deflagration to detonation, DDT, region of an engine, and configured to apply nanosecond repetitive voltage pulses having an amplitude smaller than a threshold breakdown voltage of a fuel mixture to the DDT region;
• and
• a control system configured to control the pulser and the pair of electrodes,
• wherein the control system turns on the pair of electrodes before a combustion front of an ignited fuel mixture of the engine arrives at a location of the pair of electrodes and turns the pair of electrodes off after the combustion front has passed, and
• wherein the nanosecond repetitive voltage pulses generate a non-thermal plasma that transitions the combustion front propagation, of the ignited fuel mixture, through the engine from a deflagration mode to a detonation mode, wherein a pressure wave moves ahead of the combustion front in the DDT region, and wherein the nanosecond repetitive voltage pulses are applied between the combustion front and the pressure wave or are applied into the combustion front itself.