Model of Formation of the Electric Current in Aircraft Jet Engine Ducts

A possible mechanism of formation of electric currents (engine currents) in aircraft engine jets (with subsequent charging of the aircraft) is investigated. This mechanism is a result of the presence of electrons and ions at concentrations of 10⁷–10¹⁰cm^-3 in the gas flow in the engine duct. The electrons and ions are formed in the fuel combustion chamber as a result of chemo- ionization reactions. The wall flow zones in which the electrical quasi-neutrality of the medium is violated are considered. In these zones a nonzero normal component of the electric current is formed on the wall surface and a streamwise electric current develops in the duct. A general functional dependence of the engine current on the basic dimensionless parameters is obtained on the basis of similarity theory and dimensional analysis. Within the framework of electrical diffusion boundary layer theory a model problem of formation of the maximum possible engine current is formulated. A universal system of equations and boundary conditions, which contains no dimensionless parameters, is obtained and investigated. The engine current is qualitatively estimated for real engines and the calculation results are compared with the experimental data obtained under airfield conditions.