Features of intrinsic electric field formation in low-temperature oxygen–methane plasma

The mathematical model has been developed for the combustion of oxygen-methane plasma at pressures of 0.2 – 1.6 MPa, taking into account the ionization of combustion products and the recombination of charged components. The concentrations of positive ions were determined for the characteristic zones of the reacting oxygen-methane mixture under the assumption of ambipolar diffusion. The distributions of the strength of the self-consistent electric field and the generated electric charge along the length of the channel are obtained. The simulation results in terms of the concentration of electrons and ions in the flame are verified by the known experimental data obtained by probe methods under the operating conditions of a model liquid-propellant rocket engine.