In order to investigate the effects of the different air flows on the plasma ignitor jet

we set up an experimental measurement system to study the breakdown process and arc maintaining process of the plasma ignitor under different air flows

and cameras were used to record the dynamic changing process. The results show that the working development of the plasma jet can be divided into three phases: breakdown phase

transition phase

and stabilization phase. During the breakdown phase

as the air flow increases

the breakdown voltage firstly increases and then reduces

later rises again

and reaches its maximum and minimum at air flow of 75.7 g/min and 95.4 g/min

respectively. During the stabilization phase

the length of the plasma jets and average arc voltages increase firstly

and then reduce with the increment of the air flow. The diffluence periods of the arc are almost equal to those of the voltage and the current of the arc. The diffluence periods of the arc shorten as the air flow increases.