摘要:
An igniter (20) of a corona ignition system emits a non-thermal plasma in the form of a corona (30) to ionize and ignite a fuel mixture. The igniter (20) includes an electrode (32) and a ceramic insulator (22) surrounding the electrode (32). The insulator (22) surrounds a firing end (38) of the electrode (32) and blocks the electrode (32) from exposure to the combustion chamber (28). The insulator (22) presents a firing surface (56) exposed to the combustion chamber (28) and emitting the non-thermal plasma. A plurality of electrically conducting elements (24) are disposed in a matrix (26) of the ceramic material and along the firing surface (56) of the insulator (22), such as metal particles embedded in the ceramic material or holes in the ceramic material. The electrically conducting elements (24) reduce arc discharge during operation of the igniter (20) and thus improve the quality of ignition.
摘要:
An igniter (20) emitting an electrical field including a plurality of streamers forming a corona includes a corona enhancing tip (52) at an electrode firing end (28). The corona enhancing tip (52) includes an emitting member (58) such as a wire, layer, or sintered mass, formed of a precious metal and disposed on a base member (54). The base member (54) is formed of a nickel alloy. The emitting member (58) has a lower electrical erosion rate and chemical corrosion rate than the base member (54). The emitting member (58) presents the smallest spherical radius of the corona enhancing tip (52) at the outermost radial point (56) to concentrate the electrical field emissions and provide a consistently strong electrical field strength over time.
摘要:
An igniter (20) of a corona ignition system emits a non-thermal plasma in the form of a corona (30) to ionize and ignite a fuel mixture. The igniter (20) includes an electrode (32) and a ceramic insulator (22) surrounding the electrode (32). The insulator (22) surrounds a firing end (38) of the electrode (32) and blocks the electrode (32) from exposure to the combustion chamber (28). The insulator (22) presents a firing surface (56) exposed to the combustion chamber (28) and emitting the non-thermal plasma. A plurality of electrically conducting elements (24) are disposed in a matrix (26) of the ceramic material and along the firing surface (56) of the insulator (22), such as metal particles embedded in the ceramic material or holes in the ceramic material. The electrically conducting elements (24) reduce arc discharge during operation of the igniter (20) and thus improve the quality of ignition.
摘要:
An igniter (20) emitting an electrical field including a plurality of streamers forming a corona includes a corona enhancing tip (52) at an electrode firing end (28). The corona enhancing tip (52) includes an emitting member (58) such as a wire, layer, or sintered mass, formed of a precious metal and disposed on a base member (54). The base member (54) is formed of a nickel alloy. The emitting member (58) has a lower electrical erosion rate and chemical corrosion rate than the base member (54). The emitting member (58) presents the smallest spherical radius of the corona enhancing tip (52) at the outermost radial point (56) to concentrate the electrical field emissions and provide a consistently strong electrical field strength over time.
摘要:
A corona igniter 20 includes an insulator 28 surrounding a central electrode 24 and a shell 30 surrounding the insulator 28. The shell 30 presents a shell gap 38 having a shell gap width ws between a shell lower end 34 and a shell inner surface 90 or shell outer surface 92. The shell 30 has a shell thickness ts decreasing toward the shell lower end 34 allowing the shell gap width ws to increase toward the shell lower end 34. The shell gap 38 is open at the shell lower end 34 allowing air to flow therein, and the shell gap width ws is greatest at the shell lower end 34. The increasing shell gap width ws enhances corona discharge 22 along the insulator 28 between the central electrode 24 and shell 30.
摘要:
A corona igniter 20 includes an electrode gap 28 between the central electrode 22 and the insulator 32 and a shell gap 30 between the insulator 32 and the shell 36. The gaps 28, 30 are filled with a filler material 40 to prevent corona discharge 24 in the gaps 28, 30 and to concentrate the energy at a firing tip 58 of the central electrode 22. The filler material 40 may be electrically insulating or conductive. The shell gap width ws may be greatest at a shell lower end 92. The shell gap 30 may also be in a turnover region between a shell upper end 44 and the insulator 32, in which case the filler material 40 is injection molded around the turnover region. During operation of the igniter 20, the filler material 40 provides a reduced voltage drop across the gap 28, 30.
摘要:
An ignitor assembly constructed in accordance with one aspect of the invention has an upper inductor subassembly coupled to a lower firing end subassembly for relative pivot movement between the subassemblies. The upper inductor subassembly includes a tubular housing with inductor windings received therein with an upper electrical connector adjacent an upper end of the housing and a lower electrical connector adjacent a lower end of the housing. The lower firing end subassembly includes a ceramic insulator and a metal housing surrounding at least a portion of the ceramic insulator. The ceramic insulator has an electrical terminal extending from a terminal end and an electrode extending from a firing end. A flexible tube couples the upper inductor subassembly to the lower firing end subassembly and maintains the electrical terminal of the lower firing end subassembly in electrical contact with the lower electrical connector of the upper at a pivot joint.
摘要:
An ignitor assembly constructed in accordance with one aspect of the invention has an upper inductor subassembly coupled to a lower firing end subassembly for relative pivot movement between the subassemblies. The upper inductor subassembly includes a tubular housing with inductor windings received therein with an upper electrical connector adjacent an upper end of the housing and a lower electrical connector adjacent a lower end of the housing. The lower firing end subassembly includes a ceramic insulator and a metal housing surrounding at least a portion of the ceramic insulator. The ceramic insulator has an electrical terminal extending from a terminal end and an electrode extending from a firing end. A flexible tube couples the upper inductor subassembly to the lower firing end subassembly and maintains the electrical terminal of the lower firing end subassembly in electrical contact with the lower electrical connector of the upper at a pivot joint.
摘要:
An ignitor assembly constructed in accordance with one aspect of the invention has an upper inductor subassembly coupled to a lower firing end subassembly for relative pivot movement between the subassemblies. The upper inductor subassembly includes a tubular housing with inductor windings received therein with an upper electrical connector adjacent an upper end of the housing and a lower electrical connector adjacent a lower end of the housing. The lower firing end subassembly includes a ceramic insulator and a metal housing surrounding at least a portion of the ceramic insulator. The ceramic insulator has an electrical terminal extending from a terminal end and an electrode extending from a firing end. A flexible tube couples the upper inductor subassembly to the lower firing end subassembly and maintains the electrical terminal of the lower firing end subassembly in electrical contact with the lower electrical connector of the upper at a pivot joint.
摘要:
A corona igniter 20 includes an insulator 28 surrounding a central electrode 24 and a shell 30 surrounding the insulator 28. The shell 30 presents a shell gap 38 having a shell gap width ws between a shell lower end 34 and a shell inner surface 90 or shell outer surface 92. The shell 30 has a shell thickness is decreasing toward the shell lower end 34 allowing the shell gap width ws to increase toward the shell lower end 34. The shell gap 38 is open at the shell lower end 34 allowing air to flow therein, and the shell gap width ws is greatest at the shell lower end 34. The increasing shell gap width ws enhances corona discharge 22 along the insulator 28 between the central electrode 24 and shell 30.