System and method for elastic breakdown ignition via multipole high frequency discharge

• US 9,828,967 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2015
• Issued: 11/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zheng Ming
• Original Assignee: Zheng Ming
• Inventors: Zheng, Ming, Yu, Shui
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Hieu T
• Assistant Examiner(s): MANLEY, SHERMAN D
• Application Number:
  US14/821,596
• Publication Number:
  US 20170254312A1
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: 315 58
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 26/00 Engine-pertinent apparatus for adding exhaust gases to combustion-air, main fuel or fuel-air mixture, e.g. by exhaust gas recirculation [EGR] systems
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 26/01 Internal exhaust gas recirculation, i.e. wherein the residual exhaust gases are trapped in the cylinder or pushed back from the intake or the exhaust manifold into the combustion chamber without the use of additional passages
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 15/001 Ignition installations adapted to specific engine types ignition of jet propulsion plants F02K9/95; for rotary piston engines F02B53/12
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 15/08 having multiple-spark ignition, i.e. ignition occurring simultaneously at different places in one engine cylinder or in two or more separate engine cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 15/10 having continuous electric sparks
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 3/0442 using digital techniques F02P3/0456, F02P3/053, F02P3/0554, F02P3/0558 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01T 13/22 having two or more electrodes embedded in insulation sparking plugs having two or more spark gaps H01T13/46
• CPC Class Codes: H01T 13/467 in parallel connection
• CPC Class Codes: H01T 21/02 of sparking plugs

Abstract

An ignition system includes an ignition coil with a primary winding and a secondary winding having a terminal for providing a high voltage (HV). An electrode arrangement of an igniter includes first and second HV electrodes coupled to the terminal of the secondary winding. The igniter also has at least one ground electrode. A first spark gap is defined between the first HV electrode and the at least one ground electrode, and a second spark gap is defined between the second HV electrode and the at least one ground electrode. A first capacitor is disposed in-line between the first HV electrode and the terminal of the secondary winding and a second capacitor disposed in-line between the second HV electrode and the terminal of the secondary winding of the ignition coil. The ignition system includes a driver module coupled to a terminal of the primary winding, for driving the ignition coil.

Claims

1. An ignition system, comprising:

an ignition coil having a primary winding and a secondary winding, the secondary winding having a terminal for providing a high voltage (HV) signal;

an igniter having an electrode arrangement comprising;

a first HV electrode in electrical communication with the terminal of the secondary winding;

a second HV electrode in electrical communication with the terminal of the secondary winding; and

at least one ground electrode,

the electrode arrangement defining a first spark gap between the first HV electrode and the at least one ground electrode, and defining a second spark gap between the second HV electrode and the at least one ground electrode;

a first capacitor disposed in-line between the first HV electrode and the terminal of the secondary winding of the ignition coil and a second capacitor disposed in-line between the second HV electrode and the terminal of the secondary winding of the ignition coil;

a first resistor disposed between the first HV electrode and the first capacitor, and a second resistor disposed between the second HV electrode and the second capacitor;

a third capacitor disposed in parallel with the first spark gap and a fourth capacitor disposed in parallel with the second spark gap; and

a driver module coupled to a terminal of the primary winding for driving the ignition coil.

2. The ignition system of claim 1, comprising a fifth capacitor disposed in parallel with the ignition coil secondary winding and a sixth capacitor disposed in parallel with the ignition coil secondary winding.

3. The ignition system of claim 2, comprising a seventh capacitor disposed between the first HV electrode and the second HV electrode.

4. The ignition system of claim 1, comprising an electrically insulating material for supporting the first HV electrode and the second HV electrode relative to one another and relative to the at least one ground electrode, and for electrically isolating the first HV electrode and the second HV electrode one from the other and from the at least one ground electrode.

5. A circuit for use in an ignition system, the ignition system including an ignition coil having a primary winding and a secondary winding, the secondary winding having a terminal for providing a high voltage (HV) signal, an electrode arrangement comprising a first HV electrode in electrical communication with the terminal of the secondary winding, a second HV electrode in electrical communication with the terminal of the secondary winding, and at least one ground electrode, and a driver module coupled to a terminal of the primary winding for driving the ignition coil, wherein the electrode arrangement defines a first spark gap between the first HV electrode and the at least one ground electrode, and defines a second spark gap between the second HV electrode and the at least one ground electrode, the circuit comprising:

a first capacitor disposed in-line between the first HV electrode and the terminal of the secondary winding of the ignition coil;

a second capacitor disposed in-line between the second HV electrode and the terminal of the secondary winding of the ignition coil; and

a first resistor disposed between the first HV electrode and the first capacitor, and a second resistor disposed between the second HV electrode and the second capacitor; and

a third capacitor disposed in parallel with the first spark gap and a fourth capacitor disposed in parallel with the second spark gap.

6. The circuit of claim 5, comprising a fifth capacitor disposed in parallel with the ignition coil secondary winding and a sixth capacitor disposed in parallel with the ignition coil secondary winding.

7. The circuit of claim 6, comprising a seventh capacitor disposed between the first HV electrode and the second HV electrode.

8. An igniter for an ignition system, comprising:

a support body fabricated from an electrically insulating material;

at least a ground electrode supported by the support body;

at least two high voltage (HV) electrodes supported one relative to another by the support body and electrically isolated one from the other and from the at least a ground electrode by the support body, each HV electrode of the at least two HV electrodes having a first end that protrudes from a first end of the support body at a spark forming end of the igniter, and each HV electrode of the at least two HV electrodes having a second end opposite the first end that is contained within the electrically insulating material;

an HV terminal having a first end that protrudes from a second end of the support body for connection to a terminal of an ignition coil, and having a second end opposite the first end that is embedded in the electrically insulating material and that opposes the second ends of the at least two HV electrodes; and

at least a dielectric element contained within the electrically insulating material, the at least a dielectric element disposed between the second end of the HV terminal and the second ends of the at least two HV electrodes.

9. The igniter of claim 8, comprising a first conductive layer formed between the second end of the HV terminal and a first surface of the at least a dielectric element and a second conductive layer formed between the second ends of the at least two HV electrodes and a second surface of the at least a dielectric element.

10. The igniter of claim 9, wherein the second conductive layer comprises a first portion disposed between the second surface of the at least a dielectric element and the second end of a first one of the at least two HV electrodes, and a second portion disposed between the second surface of the at least a dielectric element and the second end of a second one of the at least two HV electrodes, the first portion electrically insulated from the second portion.

11. The igniter of claim 10, wherein the at least a dielectric element comprises a first dielectric element disposed between the second end of the HV terminal and the second end of the first one of the at least two HV electrodes, and a second dielectric element disposed between the second end of the HV terminal and the second end of the second one of the at least two HV electrodes.

12. The igniter of claim 8, wherein the at least a dielectric element is fabricated from a material having a dielectric constant higher than the dielectric constant of alumina.

13. The igniter of claim 12, wherein the material is selected from the group consisting:

of Strontium Titanate (ST), Barium Strontium Titanate (BST), and Calcium Copper Titanate (CCT).

14. The igniter of claim 9, comprising a resistor embedded in the electrically insulating material between the second end of the HV terminal and the first conductive layer.

15. A method, comprising:

providing an ignitable fuel mixture in a combustion zone;

providing a plurality of spark gaps, including a first spark gap and a second spark gap, which are disposed within the combustion zone, the plurality of spark gaps being in electrical communication with a secondary winding of an ignition coil, the secondary winding for providing a high voltage (HV) signal during use;

providing a first capacitor having a first capacitance in-line with the first spark gap and providing a second capacitor having a second capacitance in-line with the second spark gap, the first and second capacitances being selected for providing a predetermined spark discharge dwell time for the first spark gap and for the second spark gap, respectively;

providing a first resistor having a first resistance disposed between the first capacitor and the first spark gap and providing a second resistor having a second resistance disposed between the second capacitor and the second spark gap, the first and second resistances being selected for providing a predetermined discharge current on the first spark gap and on the second spark gap, respectively;

providing a third capacitor having a third capacitance paralleled with the first spark gap and providing a fourth capacitor having a fourth capacitance paralleled with the second spark gap, the first and second capacitances being selected for providing a predetermined breakdown energy for the first spark gap and for the second spark gap, respectively;

using a driver module, energizing and discharging the ignition coil to provide the high voltage (HV) signal to each one of the first and second capacitors; and

producing a plurality of sparks on the plurality of spark gaps including the first spark gap and the second spark gap.

16. The method of claim 15, comprising providing a fifth capacitor having a fifth capacitance paralleled with the secondary winding of the ignition coil and providing a sixth capacitor having a sixth capacitance paralleled with the secondary winding of the ignition coil, the fifth and sixth capacitances being selected for changing at least one of a period and an amplitude of the HV signal provided by the secondary winding of the ignition coil.