A theoretical plasma physics model of the plasmatron

An analysis was conducted to determine the behavior of a high pressure electric arc discharge inside the Plasmatron Fuel Reformer. The Plasmatron Fuel Reformer uses an electric arc to partially combust fuel in an internal combustion engine to increase efficiency and reduce emissions. Solutions of the conservation equations for the arc yield temperature, pressure and velocity profiles for arcs with 0.2-0.8 A currents. Acquired knowledge was used to predict arc radius and power delivered by the arc as a function of current.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Nuclear Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2004

Author dc:creator

• Burns, Barrett A. (Barrett Adams), 1972-

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Jeffrey Phillip Freidberg.

• Nuclear Engineering.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/26912

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/26912