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Title: Large discharge-volume, silent discharge spark plug

Abstract

A large discharge-volume spark plug for providing self-limiting microdischarges. The apparatus includes a generally spark plug-shaped arrangement of a pair of electrodes, where either of the two coaxial electrodes is substantially shielded by a dielectric barrier from a direct discharge from the other electrode, the unshielded electrode and the dielectric barrier forming an annular volume in which self-terminating microdischarges occur when alternating high voltage is applied to the center electrode. The large area over which the discharges occur, and the large number of possible discharges within the period of an engine cycle, make the present silent discharge plasma spark plug suitable for use as an ignition source for engines. In the situation, where a single discharge is effective in causing ignition of the combustible gases, a conventional single-polarity, single-pulse, spark plug voltage supply may be used.

Inventors:
 [1]
  1. Los Alamos, NM
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
870172
Patent Number(s):
US 5469013
Assignee:
United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
DOE Contract Number:  
W-7405-ENG-36
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
discharge-volume; silent; discharge; spark; plug; providing; self-limiting; microdischarges; apparatus; plug-shaped; arrangement; pair; electrodes; coaxial; substantially; shielded; dielectric; barrier; direct; electrode; unshielded; forming; annular; volume; self-terminating; occur; alternating; voltage; applied; center; discharges; period; engine; cycle; plasma; suitable; ignition; source; engines; situation; single; effective; causing; combustible; gases; conventional; single-polarity; single-pulse; supply; combustible gases; dielectric barrier; spark plug; voltage supply; combustible gas; discharge plasma; center electrode; silent discharge; conventional single; coaxial electrode; /313/

Citation Formats

Kang, Michael. Large discharge-volume, silent discharge spark plug. United States: N. p., 1995. Web.
Kang, Michael. Large discharge-volume, silent discharge spark plug. United States.
Kang, Michael. 1995. "Large discharge-volume, silent discharge spark plug". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/870172.
@article{osti_870172,
title = {Large discharge-volume, silent discharge spark plug},
author = {Kang, Michael},
abstractNote = {A large discharge-volume spark plug for providing self-limiting microdischarges. The apparatus includes a generally spark plug-shaped arrangement of a pair of electrodes, where either of the two coaxial electrodes is substantially shielded by a dielectric barrier from a direct discharge from the other electrode, the unshielded electrode and the dielectric barrier forming an annular volume in which self-terminating microdischarges occur when alternating high voltage is applied to the center electrode. The large area over which the discharges occur, and the large number of possible discharges within the period of an engine cycle, make the present silent discharge plasma spark plug suitable for use as an ignition source for engines. In the situation, where a single discharge is effective in causing ignition of the combustible gases, a conventional single-polarity, single-pulse, spark plug voltage supply may be used.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/870172}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1995},
month = {Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1995}
}

Works referenced in this record:

Soot elimination and NO/sub x/ and SO/sub x/ reduction in diesel-engine exhaust by a combination of discharge plasma and oil dynamics
journal, January 1992


Nonequilibrium volume plasma chemical processing
journal, January 1991