Energy measurement of spark discharge using different triggering methods and inductance loads

• Spark discharge experiments with different nominal energy (100–1000 mJ) and inductance loads were carried.
• The voltage and current curves of the spark discharge are oscillating decay curves.
• The spark discharge circuit triggered by electrode movement can be considered as a simple LC circuit.
• Discharge efficiencies at energy of 100–1000 mJ were obtained for different trigger methods and inductance loads.
• Energy release rate (power) is another important influence factor to ignition behavior besides total energy amount.

Spark discharge experiments with different nominal energy (100–1000 mJ) and inductance loads (0.024 or 1.454 mH) were carried out using different trigger methods. A Tektronix oscilloscope with a high-voltage probe and a current probe was used to record the dynamic voltage and current. The influence of inductance and trigger method on the discharge efficiency and discharge time were investigated. It was found that, when the discharge was triggered by electrode movement, the discharge efficiency ranged from 78.2% to 90.1% in case of without inductor, and ranged from 41.1% to 59.3% in case of with inductor.

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