Abstract
A theoretical model to simulate spark ignition and subsequent flame propagation is presented. The model incorporates physical models of the breakdown process, which include effects of the blast wave generated during breakdown and chemical kinetics of fuel combustion. The energy and species equations are solved using a control volume method. A three step mechanism is used to simulate chemical kinetics for fuel combustion and nitrogen chemistry. Plasma ionization is included and its composition is calculated by assuming local thermal equilibrium using statistical thermodynamics and molecular theory. The effects of power input, spark energy, and mixture equivalence ratio on the kernel growth and flame propagation are obtained and compared with experimental and computational results available in the literature.
