System and method for ignition of a gaseous or dispersed fuel-oxidant mixture

• US 8,136,624 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2011
• Issued: 03/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SoundBlast Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: SoundBlast Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Fullerton, Larry W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eldred, J. Woodrow
• Application Number:
  US13/014,343
• Publication Number:
  US 20110192307A1
• Time in Patent Office: 419 Days
• Field of Search: 181/117, 181/118, 89/7, 102/355, 102/363, 102/403
• US Class Current: 181/117
• CPC Class Codes: F02K 7/02 the jet being intermittent, i.e. pulse-jet
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 3/00 Blasting cartridges, i.e. case and explosive fuse cords, e.g. detonating fuse cords C06C5/00; chemical aspects of detonators, blasting caps or primers C06C7/00
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 3/02 adapted to be united into assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: F42D 3/06 for seismic purposes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft

Abstract

An improved system and method for ignition of a gaseous or dispersive fuel-oxidant mixture is provided where a gaseous or dispersive fuel-oxidant mixture is supplied to a detonator tube having a fill point and an open end and an igniter placed at an ignition point within the detonator tube is ignited while the gaseous or dispersive fuel-oxidant mixture is flowing through the detonator tube. A detonation impulse is produced at the ignition point that propagates to the open end of said detonator tube where it can be supplied to a detonation tube having an open end, to an internal combustion engine, a combustion chamber, and to a pulse detonation engine.

Claims

1. A detonator, comprising:

a detonator tube, said detonator tube having a fill point and an open end, said fill point being supplied a gaseous or dispersive fuel-oxidant mixture that flows through said detonator tube and exits out said open end; and

an igniter, said igniter being placed at an ignition point within said detonator tube, said igniter igniting said gaseous or dispersive fuel-oxidant mixture while said gaseous or dispersive fuel-oxidant mixture is flowing through said detonator tube thereby producing a detonation impulse at said ignition point that propagates to said open end of said detonator tube.

2. The detonator of claim 1, further comprising:

a valve, said valve located inside said detonator tube.

3. The detonator of claim 2, wherein said valve is a check valve.

4. A system for igniting a gaseous or dispersive fuel-oxidant mixture, comprising:

a detonator tube having a fill point, an open end and an igniter at an ignition point within the detonator tube; and

a fuel supply for supplying a gaseous or dispersive fuel-oxidant mixture to said fill point of said detonator tube, said gaseous or dispersive fuel-oxidant mixture flowing through said detonator tube and exiting out said open end, said igniter igniting said gaseous or dispersive fuel-oxidant mixture while said gaseous or dispersive fuel-oxidant mixture is flowing through said detonator tube thereby producing a detonation impulse at said ignition point that propagates to said open end of said detonator tube.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising:

a valve, said valve located inside said detonator tube.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said valve is a check valve.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said valve is located before said ignition point.

8. The system of claim 4, wherein said detonation impulse is supplied to one of a detonation tube having an open end, a combustion chamber, an internal combustion engine, or a pulse detonation engine.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein a mass ratio of fuel versus oxidant and a flow rate of said gaseous or dispersed fuel-oxidant mixture is selected based on a length and a diameter of said detonator tube.

10. The system of claim 4, wherein said gaseous or dispersive fuel-oxidant mixture comprises at least one of ethane, methane, propane, hydrogen, butane, alcohol, acetylene, MAPP gas, gasoline, aviation fuel, a petroleum distillate, naphtha, mineral oil, kerosene, diesel, benzene or DEET.

11. The system of claim 4, further comprising:

a timing control mechanism for controlling the timing of the igniter.

12. A system for igniting a gaseous or dispersive fuel-oxidant mixture, comprising:

a detonator, comprising;

a detonator tube, said detonator tube having a fill point and an open end; and

an igniter, said igniter being placed at an ignition point within said detonator tube; and

a fuel-oxidant mixture supply that supplies a gaseous or dispersive fuel-oxidant mixture to said fill point of said detonator tube, said gaseous or dispersive fuel-oxidant mixture flowing through said detonator tube and exiting out said open end, said igniter igniting said gaseous or dispersive fuel-oxidant mixture while said gaseous or dispersive fuel-oxidant mixture is flowing through said detonator tube thereby producing a detonation impulse at said ignition point that propagates to said open end of said detonator tube.

13. The system of claim 12, said detonator further comprising:

a valve, said valve located inside said detonation tube.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said valve is a check valve.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein said valve is located before said ignition point.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein a mass ratio of fuel versus oxidant and a flow rate of said gaseous or dispersed fuel-oxidant mixture is selected based on a length and a diameter of said detonator tube.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein said gaseous or dispersive fuel-oxidant mixture comprises at least one of ethane, methane, propane, hydrogen, butane, alcohol, acetylene, MAPP gas, gasoline, aviation fuel, a petroleum distillate, naphtha, mineral oil, kerosene, diesel, benzene or DEET.

18. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

a timing control mechanism that controls the timing of the igniter.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said timing control mechanism comprises one of a trigger mechanism, fixed logic, or a control processor.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein said igniter comprises one of a high voltage pulse source, a triggered spark gap source, a laser, or an exploding wire.