DOE Patents title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Plasma jet ignition device

Abstract

An ignition device of the plasma jet type is disclosed. The device has a cylindrical cavity formed in insulating material with an electrode at one end. The other end of the cylindrical cavity is closed by a metal plate with a small orifice in the center which plate serves as a second electrode. An arc jumping between the first electrode and the orifice plate causes the formation of a highly-ionized plasma in the cavity which is ejected through the orifice into the engine cylinder area to ignite the main fuel mixture. Two improvements are disclosed to enhance the operation of the device and the length of the plasma plume. One improvement is a metal hydride ring which is inserted in the cavity next to the first electrode. During operation, the high temperature in the cavity and the highly excited nature of the plasma breaks down the metal hydride, liberating hydrogen which acts as an additional fuel to help plasma formation. A second improvement consists of a cavity insert containing a plurality of spaced, metal rings. The rings act as secondary spark gap electrodes reducing the voltage needed to maintain the initial arc in the cavity.

Inventors:
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [4]
  1. Franklin, MA
  2. Wayland, MA
  3. North Reading, MA
  4. Fairfield, CT
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
GEO-CENTERS INC
OSTI Identifier:
865307
Patent Number(s):
4493297
Application Number:
06/424,856
Assignee:
Geo-Centers, Inc. (Newton Upper Falls, MA)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F02 - COMBUSTION ENGINES F02P - IGNITION, OTHER THAN COMPRESSION IGNITION, FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES
H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01T - SPARK GAPS
DOE Contract Number:  
AC01-80ER10163
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
plasma; jet; ignition; device; type; disclosed; cylindrical; cavity; formed; insulating; material; electrode; closed; metal; plate; orifice; center; serves; jumping; causes; formation; highly-ionized; ejected; engine; cylinder; ignite; main; fuel; mixture; improvements; enhance; operation; length; plume; improvement; hydride; inserted; temperature; highly; excited; nature; breaks; liberating; hydrogen; additional; help; consists; insert; containing; plurality; spaced; rings; secondary; spark; gap; electrodes; reducing; voltage; maintain; initial; main fuel; metal rings; metal plate; cylindrical cavity; insulating material; spark gap; metal hydride; fuel mixture; cavity formed; ignition device; plasma jet; ionized plasma; orifice plate; plasma formation; engine cylinder; improvement consists; gap electrodes; plasma plume; plate serves; /123/219/

Citation Formats

McIlwain, Michael E, Grant, Jonathan F, Golenko, Zsolt, and Wittstein, Alan D. Plasma jet ignition device. United States: N. p., 1985. Web.
McIlwain, Michael E, Grant, Jonathan F, Golenko, Zsolt, & Wittstein, Alan D. Plasma jet ignition device. United States.
McIlwain, Michael E, Grant, Jonathan F, Golenko, Zsolt, and Wittstein, Alan D. Tue . "Plasma jet ignition device". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/865307.
@article{osti_865307,
title = {Plasma jet ignition device},
author = {McIlwain, Michael E and Grant, Jonathan F and Golenko, Zsolt and Wittstein, Alan D},
abstractNote = {An ignition device of the plasma jet type is disclosed. The device has a cylindrical cavity formed in insulating material with an electrode at one end. The other end of the cylindrical cavity is closed by a metal plate with a small orifice in the center which plate serves as a second electrode. An arc jumping between the first electrode and the orifice plate causes the formation of a highly-ionized plasma in the cavity which is ejected through the orifice into the engine cylinder area to ignite the main fuel mixture. Two improvements are disclosed to enhance the operation of the device and the length of the plasma plume. One improvement is a metal hydride ring which is inserted in the cavity next to the first electrode. During operation, the high temperature in the cavity and the highly excited nature of the plasma breaks down the metal hydride, liberating hydrogen which acts as an additional fuel to help plasma formation. A second improvement consists of a cavity insert containing a plurality of spaced, metal rings. The rings act as secondary spark gap electrodes reducing the voltage needed to maintain the initial arc in the cavity.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jan 15 00:00:00 EST 1985},
month = {Tue Jan 15 00:00:00 EST 1985}
}