Numerical study on spark ignition of laminar lean premixed methane-air flames in counterflow configuration

In the present work, the ignition of lean laminar premixed methane-air flames in a counterflow configuration is investigated using detailed numerical simulations. The dependence of the minimum energy necessary for a successful ignition on various parameters (spark geometry, spark duration, mixture composition, flow strain rates) is studied. A one-dimensional numerical calculation is performed using detailed chemical kinetics for the methane-air combustion system. Depending on various parameters, the system can be either successfully ignited (stable flame as stationary solution) or quenched (quenched flame as stationary solution). Furthermore, different detailed chemical mechanisms have been tested. A sensitivity analysis with respect to the Arrhenius parameters shows the key elementary reactions in the prediction of the minimal energy necessary for a successful ignition, which provides important information in the development of detailed chemical mechanisms.