Cooper Cameron Corporation

Borgwarner Inc.

Etatech, Inc.

Paul Douglas Freen

The disclosure relates methods and related systems for controlling corona discharge in a combustion chamber without causing an arc strike. The methods can include measuring a baseline impedance of a circuit in electrical communication with an electrode, measuring an actual impedance of the circuit, determining an impedance setpoint based at least in part on the baseline impedance, comparing the actual impedance to the impedance setpoint, and adjusting the actual impedance based at least in part on the comparison between the actual impedance and the impedance setpoint. The electrode is arranged to deliver a corona discharge to the combustion chamber.

Igniting combustible mixtures

The invention relates to a system for igniting a fuel-air mixture in a combustion chamber with a corona discharge. The system comprises an electrode inside of the combustion chamber, an electric circuit which provides radio frequency electric power to the electrode, and a ground formed by the combustion chamber walls. A radio frequency voltage differential formed between the electrode and the ground produces a radio frequency electric field therebetween which causes a fuel-air mixture to ionize resulting in combustion of the fuel-air mixture. The system can be utilized in engines such as internal combustion engines or gas turbine engines, for example.

System and method for generating and sustaining a corona electric discharge for igniting a combustible gaseous mixture

A control system for an internal combustion engine can include a fuel molecular weight sensor to determine an actual and a desired Excess Air Ratio for an air/fuel mixture supplied to the engine. To prevent engine overload, the control system limits the amount of fuel delivered to the engine based on the amount of air available to the engine. High pressure exhaust gas can drive an air compressor which pressurizes inlet air. A exhaust bypass valve controls the amount of power delivered to the compressor, and the pressure and amount of inlet air delivered to the engine. Independent control of the main fuel flow and pilot fuel flow allows the control system to maintain a desired air/fuel ratio in the main combustion chamber and in the precombustion chamber.

Natural gas engine control system

Turbocharged natural gas engine control system

A combustion system of an internal combustion engine includes a main combustion chamber and a swirl flow precombustion chamber connected by a communicating passage. The communicating passage is connected tangentially to the precombustion chamber so as to induce a consistent, repeatable swirling flow pattern of gasses in the precombustion chamber during the compression stroke of the engine cycle. The swirl pattern thoroughly mixes the air, unburned fuel and burned fuel in the precombustion chamber. An igniter such as a spark plug is disposed in the precombustion chamber in a region having a low gas velocity during swirling to allow a small flame kernel to grow every engine cycle and consistently ignite the swirling gas, thereby improving engine efficiency, toxic emissions spark plug life, and allowing the igniter to run at a cooler temperature.

Growing community of inventors

Titusville, FL, United States of America

Paul Douglas Freen