Experimental study of spark-discharge initiation of detonation

The mechanisms of action on a high-current spark discharge that make it possible to reduce the total expenditure of electric energy on initiating detonation have been proposed. The action is based on the control of a discharge current with the aid of an external circuit and on the addition of easily ionizable admixtures to a fuel-oxygen mixture. Results of experimental investigations into the spark-discharge initiation of detonation with the action on the discharge process have been presented; the results were obtained in mixtures of hydrogen with oxygen and of commercial propane-butane with oxygen at atmospheric pressure.