Improved Plasma Torch for Ignition, Flameholding and Enhancement of Combustion in High Speed Flows

• US 20070044449A1
• Filed: 05/18/2006
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc. (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University)
• Original Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc. (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University)
• Inventors: Schetz, Joseph, Billingsley, Matthew, Sanders, Darius, O'Brien, Walter
• Granted Patent: US 7,571,598 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/39.826
• CPC Class Codes: F02K 3/10 by after-burners F02K3/105 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02K 7/10 characterised by having ram-action compression, i.e. aero-thermo-dynamic-ducts or ram-jet engines
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2220/10 in ram-jet engines or ram-jet driven vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2220/80 in supersonic vehicles excluding hypersonic vehicles or ram, scram or rocket propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: F23R 2900/00009 Using plasma torches for igniting, stabilizing, or improving the combustion process

Abstract

Preheating of fuel and injection into a plasma torch plume fro adjacent the plasma torch plume provides for only ignition with reduced delay but improved fuel-air mixing and fuel atomization as well as combustion reaction enhancement. Heat exchange also reduced erosion of the anode of the plasma torch. Fuel mixing atomization, fuel mixture distribution enhancement and combustion reaction enhancement are improved by unsteady plasma torch energization, integral formation of the heat exchanger, fuel injection nozzle and plasma torch anode in a more compact, low-profile arrangement which is not intrusive on a highspeed air flow with which the invention is particularly effective and further enhanced by use of nitrogen as a feedstock material and inclusion of high pressure gases in the fuel to cause effervescence during injection.

Claims

1. A combined plasma torch igniter/mixer/combustion reaction enhancer apparatus comprising

a plasma torch including an anode an capable of producing a plasma plume,

a heat exchanger for preheating fuel and cooling said anode,

a nozzle for injecting preheated fuel into said plasma plume from a location adjacent said plasma plume, and

means for passing feedstock materials adjacent said anode.

2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further including means for varying energization of said plasma torch.

3. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said nozzle functions as an orifice pressure atomizer in combination with an external mixing fluid-assist atomizer.

4. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said nozzle functions as an orifice pressure atomizer in combination with an external mixing fluid-assist atomizer.

5. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said nozzle and said anode are integrally formed.

6. An apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein said nozzle and said anode are integrally formed.

7. An apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said nozzle and said anode are integrally formed.

8. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said feedstock gas is nitrogen

9. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 further including means for introducing high-pressure gas into said fuel.

10. A apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein said high pressure gas is nitrogen.

11. A jet engine including a combined plasma torch igniter/mixer/combustion reaction enhancer apparatus comprising

a plasma torch including an anode an capable of producing a plasma plume,

a heat exchanger for preheating fuel and cooling said anode,

a nozzle for injecting preheated fuel into said plasma plume from a location adjacent said plasma plume, and

means for passing feedstock materials adjacent said anode.

12. A jet engine as recited in claim 11, further including means for varying energization of said plasma torch.

13. A jet engine as recited in claim 12, wherein said nozzle functions as an orifice pressure atomizer in combination with an external mixing fluid-assist atomizer.

14. A jet engine as recited in claim 11, wherein said nozzle functions as an orifice pressure atomizer in combination with an external mixing fluid-assist atomizer.

15. A jet engine as recited in claim 11 wherein said nozzle and said anode are integrally formed.

16. A jet engine as recited in claim 12 wherein said nozzle and said anode are integrally formed.

17. A jet engine as recited in claim 13 wherein said nozzle and said anode are integrally formed.

18. A jet engine as recited in claim 11 wherein said feedstock gas is nitrogen

19. A jet engine as recited in claim 11 further including means for introducing high-pressure gas into said fuel.

20. A jet engine as recited in claim 19 wherein said high pressure gas is nitrogen.