METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING ADAPTIVE SWIRL INJECTION AND IGNITION
First Claim
1. A fuel injector-igniter, comprising:
- a housing;
an actuator; and
a valve including a valve head operative to open and close against a valve seat in response to activation of the actuator;
wherein the valve seat includes an electrode portion extending beyond the valve head and within the housing to form at least one gap; and
wherein a current discharge between the housing and electrode portion establishes a plasma and electro-magnetic forces driving the plasma from the at least one gap.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A fuel injector-igniter incorporating adaptive swirl injection and ignition. The fuel injector-igniter comprises a housing, an actuator, and a valve. The valve includes a valve head operative to open and close against a valve seat in response to activation of the actuator. The valve seat includes an electrode portion extending beyond the valve head and within the housing to form at least one gap, such as an annular gap. A current discharge between the housing and electrode portion establishes a plasma and electromagnetic forces driving the plasma from the gap. The injector-igniter may further comprise a power supply connected to the housing and valve seat that is operative to provide the current discharge. The electrode portion includes a plurality of flow shaping features, such as a plurality of twisted fins disposed around the electrode portion and thereby operative to impart a rotation to the plasma.
24 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A fuel injector-igniter, comprising:
-
a housing; an actuator; and a valve including a valve head operative to open and close against a valve seat in response to activation of the actuator; wherein the valve seat includes an electrode portion extending beyond the valve head and within the housing to form at least one gap; and wherein a current discharge between the housing and electrode portion establishes a plasma and electro-magnetic forces driving the plasma from the at least one gap. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A fuel injector-igniter, comprising:
-
a housing; a power supply; an actuator; a valve seat electrode including a valve seat and an electrode portion extending beyond the valve seat and within the housing to form an annular gap; and a valve including a valve head operative to open and close against the valve seat in response to activation of the actuator; wherein the power supply is operative to produce a current discharge between the housing and electrode portion establishing a plasma and electromagnetic forces driving the plasma from the annular gap. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method of injecting and igniting fuel in a combustion chamber, the method comprising:
-
introducing the fuel into an annular region between two electrodes; providing a current across the two electrodes and through the fuel to establish a plasma; maintaining the current across the two electrodes to establish Lorentz forces driving the plasma from the annular region and into the combustion chamber; and imparting rotation on the fuel and plasma as it is driven from the annular region. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification