Abstract:
Apparatus for igniting fuel in a combustor includes an injector having an electrostatic fuel atomization nozzle and an igniter. The injector produces an initial combustion process that ignites the main fuel supply from a fuel nozzle. Alternatively, a main fuel nozzle is provided which includes a plurality of electrostatic fuel nozzles disposed about a centrally located igniter. In one embodiment, the igniter is a laser igniter.
Abstract:
An ignition/chemical reaction promotion/flame holding device and a high-performance speed-type internal combustion engine using this device are provided, whereby ignition and the spreading and holding of flames can be dramatically improved in a gas turbine, a ram machine, a rocket engine, or another speed-type internal combustion engine. An ignition/chemical reaction promotion/flame holding device of a speed-type internal combustion engine comprises a spark plug for preparing charged particles in a predetermined location in a combustor of the speed-type internal combustion engine, and a microwave oscillator and antenna for inducing plasma with a working fluid in the combustor as a starter material by irradiating the charged particles and their surrounding vicinity with microwave pulses; wherein a region in which sufficient conditions for performing combustion are met is formed in the combustor by supplying an active chemical species produced from the working fluid by the effect of the plasma.
Abstract:
A new approach for igniting an air-fuel mixture in a turbine or other engine is disclosed. Resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) is used to generate volume ionization within an air-fuel flow and induce an ignition arc. The output of a relatively low energy single pulsed ultraviolet laser is aimed across an electric field inside a volume of air to create a pre-ionized channel so that a smaller voltage electric field is sufficient to create an electrical arc that follows the pre-ionized channel and will ignite an air-fuel mixture. Because the arc follows the pre-ionized channel, it can be directed to an optimal location inside an ignition volume for igniting the air-fuel mixture. A specific example embodiment is described using a 287.5 nm wavelength pulsed ultraviolet laser to excite ground state oxygen molecules to a specific excited state having a coincident term energy with a specific nitrogen molecule excited state.
Abstract:
An ignition and chemical reaction accelerator and flame stabilizer and a high-performance speed-type internal combustion engine using this device are provided, whereby ignition and the spreading and holding of flames can be dramatically improved in a gas turbine, a ram machine, a rocket engine, or another speed-type internal combustion engine. An ignition and chemical reaction accelerator and flame stabilizer of a speed-type internal combustion engine comprises a spark plug (110) for preparing charged particles in a predetermined location in a combustor (104) of the speed-type internal combustion engine, and a microwave oscillator (116) and antenna (112) for inducing plasma with a working fluid in the combustor as a starter material by irradiating the charged particles and their surrounding vicinity with microwave pulses; wherein a region in which sufficient conditions for performing combustion are met is formed in the combustor by supplying an active chemical species produced from the working fluid by the effect of the plasma.
Abstract:
An ignition device, in particular for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, having a laser device for generating laser pulses, and having an optical fiber device which is at least optically connected to the laser device for supplying the laser device with pumped light. The optical fiber device is configured and situated in the region of the laser device in such a way that radiation incident in the region of the laser device and/or in the region of a combustion chamber associated with the laser device may be injected into the optical fiber device. The disclosed configuration of the optical fiber device advantageously allow the radiation which is injected into the optical fiber device to be analyzed, in particular using a detector which is remotely situated, without having to provide additional, separate optical fiber devices for the radiation to be analyzed, because the radiation to be analyzed may be conducted directly via the same optical fiber that is already used for supplying pumped light.
Abstract:
A mixer assembly for use in a combustion chamber of a gas turbine engine. The mixer assembly includes a mixer housing having a hollow interior, an inlet and an outlet. The housing delivers a mixture of fuel and air through the outlet to the combustion chamber for burning. The mixer assembly includes a fuel nozzle assembly mounted in the housing having a fuel passage adapted for connection to a fuel supply. The passage extends to an outlet port for delivering fuel from the passage to the hollow interior of the mixer housing. The nozzle assembly includes a plasma generator for generating at least one of a dissociated fuel and an ionized fuel from the fuel delivered through the nozzle outlet port to the hollow interior of the housing.
Abstract:
A mixer assembly for use in a combustion chamber of a gas turbine engine. The mixer assembly includes a mixer housing having a hollow interior, an inlet and an outlet. The housing delivers a mixture of fuel and air through the outlet to the combustion chamber for burning. The mixer assembly includes a fuel nozzle assembly mounted in the housing having a fuel passage adapted for connection to a fuel supply. The passage extends to an outlet port for delivering fuel from the passage to the hollow interior of the mixer housing. The nozzle assembly includes a plasma generator for generating at least one of a dissociated fuel and an ionized fuel from the fuel delivered through the nozzle outlet port to the hollow interior of the housing.
Abstract:
A device for enhancing carbon monoxide (CO) production in an exhaust gas generated from a system is provided. The device includes a flow path configured to direct the exhaust gas from the system into a heat treatment zone and an energy source configured to provide local heat treatment to the exhaust gas in the heat treatment zone for shifting an equilibrium point of reaction substantially away from carbon dioxide (CO2) formation thereby promoting formation of an increased level of carbon monoxide (CO) in the exhaust gas.
Abstract:
Apparatus for igniting fuel in a combustor includes an injector having an electrostatic fuel atomization nozzle and an igniter. The injector produces an initial combustion process that ignites the main fuel supply from a fuel nozzle. Alternatively, a main fuel nozzle is provided which includes a plurality of electrostatic fuel nozzles disposed about a centrally located igniter. In one embodiment, the igniter is a laser igniter.