초록 ▼

Apparatus for igniting an air/fuel spray (26) comprised of fuel droplets. The apparatus includes a coherent optical source (12) for introducing at least one pulse of coherent radiation into the air/fuel spray. The pulse generates free electrons and initiates a development of a plasma within the air/

Apparatus for igniting an air/fuel spray (26) comprised of fuel droplets. The apparatus includes a coherent optical source (12) for introducing at least one pulse of coherent radiation into the air/fuel spray. The pulse generates free electrons and initiates a development of a plasma within the air/fuel spray. The coherent source maintains the pulse of coherent radiation and pumps the developing plasma to higher energies. The pulse is terminated at a time after the plasma has reached a predetermined energy and before ignition of the air/fuel spray. The non-linear ignition system of the invention employs a gas/vapor interface region at a fuel droplet surface and an electric field that extends from and exists outside of a fuel droplet. Free electrons are accelerated to higher energies by the electric field surrounding the fuel droplet. The accelerated electrons initiate a breakdown near adjacent fuel droplets and the liberation of further free electrons. In a short period of time an avalanche process occurs that creates a high density of free electrons and ions which results in the formation of a plasma.

대표청구항 ▼

Apparatus for igniting an air/fuel spray comprised of fuel droplets, the apparatus comprising: coherent optical source means including means for introducing at least one pulse of coherent radiation into the air/fuel spray, the pulse generating free electrons and initiating a development of a plasma

Apparatus for igniting an air/fuel spray comprised of fuel droplets, the apparatus comprising: coherent optical source means including means for introducing at least one pulse of coherent radiation into the air/fuel spray, the pulse generating free electrons and initiating a development of a plasma within the air/fuel spray; means for maintaining the pulse of coherent radiation for pumping the plasma; and means for terminating the pulse of coherent radiation at a time after the plasma has reached a predetermined energy and before a time that an ignition of the air/fuel spray occurs.