PULSED POWER SYSTEMS AND METHODS
First Claim
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1. A method for igniting air-fuel mixtures, comprising:
- generating a fast rising voltage pulse;
creating a plurality of plasma streamers;
coupling the plasma streamers with an air-fuel mixture to create reactive species enhancing efficiency of combination chemistry.
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Abstract
A system and method for providing pulsed power to improve performance efficiency. In one approach, pulsed power is employed to improve fuel efficiency and power of an engine. The system and method can involve a transient plasma plug assembly intended to replace a traditional spark plug. Alternatively, an approach involving a pulse generator and a nanosecond, high voltage pulse carrying ignition cable is contemplated.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method for igniting air-fuel mixtures, comprising:
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generating a fast rising voltage pulse; creating a plurality of plasma streamers; coupling the plasma streamers with an air-fuel mixture to create reactive species enhancing efficiency of combination chemistry. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for igniting air-fuel mixtures of an engine, comprising:
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a generator of a fast rising pulse, the generator creating a plurality of plasma streamers; an air-fuel mixture; and a circuit to effect a combination of the plurality of plasma streamers and the air-fuel mixture and creation of a reaction species enhancing efficiency of combustion chemistry of the engine. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A spark plug, comprising:
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a spark gap having a breakdown voltage; and a transient plasma circuit that receives a signal from an external source and converts the signal into a high-voltage pulse having a rise time, the rise time of the pulse being less than the rise time of the signal from the external source, and less than the breakdown voltage of the spark gap, wherein the transient plasma circuit includes a first capacitor, a second capacitor, a diode, and a switch arranged such that transient plasma streamers are created when breakdown occurs across the spark gap. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method for igniting air-fuel mixtures, comprising:
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generating a fast rising voltage pulse; creating a plurality of plasma streamers; coupling the plasma streamers with an air-fuel mixture to create reactive species enhancing efficiency of combination chemistry to avoid a transition from transient plasma to a spark break down.
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Specification