Resonators are devices and/or systems that can produce a large response for a given input when excited at a resonance frequency. Resonators are used in various applications, including acoustics, optics, photonics, electromagnetics, chemistry, particle physics, etc. For example, electromagnetic resonators can be used as antennas or as energy transmission devices. Further, resonators can concentrate a large amount of energy in a relatively small location (for example, as in the electromagnetic waves radiated by a laser).
Aircraft, including jets, can be used to transport cargo and/or passengers from one location to another at high velocities. By providing thrust using a jet engine or a propeller, aircraft can generate lift based on Bernoulli's principle. One way of powering a jet engine or a propeller includes combusting hydrocarbon fuel.
In a first implementation, a system is provided. The system includes a combustion chamber of a jet engine. In addition, the system includes one or more radio-frequency power sources and plurality of resonators. The plurality of resonators is electromagnetically coupled to the one or more radio-frequency power sources. Each resonator of the plurality of resonators has a respective resonant wavelength and includes (i) a respective first conductor, (ii) a respective second conductor, and (iii) a respective dielectric between the respective first conductor and the respective second conductor. Each resonator of the plurality of resonators is configured such that, when the resonator is excited by the radio-frequency power source with a respective signal having a wavelength proximate to an odd-integer multiple of one-quarter of the respective resonant wavelength, the resonator provides at least one of a plasma corona or electromagnetic waves. The system also includes a fuel conduit configured to couple to a fuel source and having a fuel outlet for expelling fuel into a combustion zone of the combustion chamber. A portion of the fuel conduit is arranged proximate to the respective dielectric of a given resonator of the plurality of resonators.
In a second implementation, a method is provided. The method includes providing at least one plasma corona in a combustion chamber of a jet engine by exciting at least one resonator of a plurality of resonators with a respective signal having a wavelength proximate to an odd-integer multiple of one-quarter of a resonant wavelength of the resonator. Each resonator of the plurality of resonators includes (i) a respective first conductor, (ii) a respective second conductor, and (iii) a respective dielectric between the respective first conductor and the respective second conductor. The method also includes moving fuel from a fuel source into the combustion chamber of the jet engine by way of a fuel conduit such that the at least one plasma corona causes combustion of the fuel. A portion of the fuel conduit is arranged proximate to the respective dielectric of a given resonator of the plurality of resonators.
In a third implementation, a method is provided. The method includes providing electromagnetic waves by exciting each resonator of a plurality of resonators. Each resonator of the plurality of resonators includes (i) a respective first conductor, (ii) a respective second conductor, and (iii) a respective dielectric between the respective first conductor and the respective second conductor. The method also includes moving fuel from a fuel source into a combustion chamber of a jet engine by way of a plurality of fuel conduits. Each fuel conduit of the plurality of fuel conduits corresponds to a respective resonator of the plurality of resonators, with a portion of the fuel conduit being arranged proximate to the respective dielectric of the resonator such that the fuel moving through the fuel conduit is exposed to the electromagnetic waves, thereby pre-treating fuel within the fuel conduit so as to provide pre-treated fuel.
Other implementations will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reading the following detailed description, with reference where appropriate to the accompanying drawings.
Example methods, devices, and systems are presently disclosed. It should be understood that the word “example” is used in the present disclosure to mean “serving as an instance or illustration.” Any implementation or feature presently disclosed as being an “example” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations or features. Other implementations can be utilized, and other changes can be made, without departing from the scope of the subject matter presented in the present disclosure.
Thus, the example implementations presently disclosed are not meant to be limiting. Components presently disclosed and illustrated in the figures can be arranged, substituted, combined, separated, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are contemplated in the present disclosure.
Further, unless context suggests otherwise, the features illustrated in each of the figures can be used in combination with one another. Thus, the figures should be generally viewed as components of one or more overall implementations, with the understanding that not all illustrated features are necessary for each implementation.
In the context of this disclosure, various terms can refer to locations where, as a result of a particular configuration, and under certain conditions of operation, a voltage component can be measured as close to non-existent. For example, “voltage short” can refer to any location where a voltage component can be close to non-existent under certain conditions. Similar terms can equally refer to this location of close-to-zero voltage (for example, “virtual short circuit,” “virtual short location,” or “voltage null”). In examples, “virtual short” can be used to indicate locations where the close-to-zero voltage is a result of a standing wave crossing zero. “Voltage null” can be used to refer to locations of close-to-zero voltage for a reason other than as result of a standing wave crossing zero (for example, voltage attenuation or cancellation). Moreover, in the context of this disclosure, each of these terms that can refer to locations of close-to-zero voltage are meant to be non-limiting.
In an effort to provide technical context for the present disclosure, the information in this section can broadly describe various components of the implementations presently disclosed. However, such information is provided solely for the benefit of the reader and, as such, does not expressly limit the claimed subject matter. Further, components shown in the figures are shown for illustrative purposes only. As such, the illustrations are not to be construed as limiting. As is understood, components can be added, removed, or rearranged without departing from the scope of this disclosure.
A resonator can be excited so as to establish a plasma corona and/or electromagnetic radiation. An example of such a resonator can include a center conductor and a larger, surrounding conductor, which could be separated by a dielectric insulator such as a ceramic material. In some implementations, the resonator can also be configured to provide fuel into a combustion environment or other type of environment in which fuel may be desired.
In an example implementation, the resonator can provide fuel using a fuel conduit arranged proximate to the dielectric insulator. For instance, the dielectric insulator can include one or more fuel conduits, through which fuel can pass. These conduits can terminate at one or more fuel outlets out of which the fuel can be expelled into the environment and/or into another portion of the resonator.
Using a resonator configured in this manner in a jet engine can be advantageous in a variety of ways. For example, the resonator can be used as a substitute or supplement for a separate fuel injector component, possibly even eliminating a need for such a component. As another example, using a fuel conduit that is arranged proximate to a dielectric insulator to provide fuel can expose the fuel to resonator-generated electromagnetic waves, which can result in a reformation of the fuel before the resonator provides the fuel into a combustion chamber of the jet engine and/or ignites the fuel. And in addition, outlets of the fuel conduit can be oriented towards the location where the resonator will excite a plasma corona, thereby providing the fuel proximate to the ignition source (particularly, toward/through the plasma corona), which can improve the resulting combustion.
Furthermore, in some implementations, a resonator configured in this manner can be used together with additional resonators within a combustion chamber of a jet engine. Optionally, one or more of the additional resonators can also be configured such that fuel passes through a dielectric respectively of each of one or more of the additional resonators and is exposed to electromagnetic waves. Advantageously, when multiple resonators are configured such that fuel passes through a dielectric of each of the resonators, a greater amount of fuel can be reformed before entering the combustion chamber of the jet engine as opposed to an amount of fuel that can be reformed when only a single resonator includes a fuel conduit. Additionally or alternatively, one or more of the additional resonators can be controlled so as to provide a plasma corona. When multiple resonators are controlled so as to provide multiple plasma coronas within a combustion chamber of a jet engine, fuel introduced into the combustion chamber may combust at multiple ignition points, thereby increasing the probability of fuel being combusted before exiting the combustion chamber. Increasing the probability of fuel being combusted may improve various operating characteristics of the jet engine, including fuel efficiency and emissions, for example.
Igniters can be used to ignite a mixture of air and fuel (for example, within a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine 101, such as that illustrated in cross-section in
While gap spark igniters are described above, other types of igniters can generally include glow plugs (for example, in diesel-fueled internal combustion engines), open flame sources (for example, cigarette lighters, friction spark devices, etc.), and other heat sources.
A variety of fuels (for example, hydrocarbon fuels) can be combusted to yield energy within an internal combustion engine, within a power-generation turbine, within a jet engine, or within various other applications. For example, kerosene (also known as paraffin or lamp oil), gasoline (also known as petrol), fractional distillates of petroleum fuel oil (for example, diesel fuel), crude oil, Fischer-Tropsch synthesized paraffinic kerosene, natural gas, and coal are all hydrocarbon fuels that, when combusted, liberate energy stored within chemical bonds of the fuel. Jet fuel, specifically, can be classified by its “jet propellant” (JP) number. The “jet propellant” (JP) number can correspond to a classification system utilized by the United States military. For example, JP-1 can be a pure kerosene fuel, JP-4 can be a 50% kerosene and 50% gasoline blend, JP-9 can be another kerosene-based fuel, JP-9 can be a gas turbine fuel (for example, including tetrahydrodimethylcyclopentadiene) specifically used in missile applications, and JP-10 can be a fuel similar to JP-9 that includes endo-tetrahydrodicyclopentadiene, exo-tetrahydrodicyclopentadiene, and adamantane. Other forms of jet fuel include zip fuel (for example, high-energy fuel that contains boron), SYNTROLEUM® FT-fuel, other kerosene-type fuels (for example, Jet A fuel and Jet A-1 fuel), and naphtha-type fuels (for example, Jet B fuel). It is understood that other fuels can be combusted as well. Further, the fuel type used can depend upon the application. For example, jet engines, internal combustion engines, and power-generation turbines may each burn different types of fuels.
When fuel (for example, hydrocarbon fuel) interacts with electromagnetic radiation, the fuel can change chemical composition. For example, when hydrocarbon fuel interacts with (for example, is irradiated by) microwaves, some of the hydrogen atoms can be ionized and/or one or more hydrogen atoms can be liberated from a hydrocarbon chain. The processes of liberating hydrogen within fuel, ionizing hydrogen within fuel, or otherwise changing the chemical composition of fuel are collectively referred to in the present disclosure as “reforming” the fuel. Reforming the fuel can include exciting the hydrocarbon fuel at one or more of its natural resonant frequencies (for example, acoustic and/or electromagnetic resonant frequencies) to break one or more of the carbon-hydrogen (or other) bonds within the hydrocarbon chain. When hydrogen within a hydrocarbon fuel becomes ionized and/or is liberated from the hydrocarbon chain, the resulting hydrocarbon fuel can require less energy to burn. Thus, a leaner fuel/air mixture that includes reformed fuel can achieve the same output power (for example, within a combustion chamber of a jet engine or a power-generation turbine) as compared to a more rich fuel/air mixture that includes non-reformed fuel, since the reformed fuel can combust more quickly and thoroughly. Analogously, when comparing equal fuel-to-air ratios, less input energy can be required to combust a mixture that includes reformed fuel when compared to a mixture that includes non-reformed fuel.
In addition to reforming fuels, electromagnetic radiation can alter an energy state of fuel and/or of a fuel mixture. In an example implementation, altering the energy state of fuel can include exciting electrons within the valence band of the hydrocarbon chain to higher energy levels. In such scenarios, raising the energy state can also include reorienting polar molecules (for example, water and/or polar hydrocarbon chains) within a fuel/air mixture due to electromagnetic fields applying a torque on polar molecules. Reorienting polar molecules can result in molecular motion, thereby increasing an effective temperature and/or kinetic energy of the molecule, which raises the energy state of fuel. By raising the energy state of fuel, the activation energy for combustion of the fuel can be reduced. When the activation energy for combustion is reduced, the energy supplied by the ignition source can also be decreased, thereby conserving energy during ignition.
Presently disclosed are ignition systems with resonators (for example, QWCCR structures) that use both RF power and DC power. The presently disclosed RF ignition systems provide an alternative to other types of igniters. For example, the QWCCR structure can be used as an igniter (for example, in place of an automotive gap spark plug) in the internal combustion engine 101. Such RF ignition systems can excite plasma (for example, within a corona). If an igniter is configured as one of the RF ignition systems presently disclosed, then more efficient, leaner, cleaner combustion can be achieved. Such increased combustion efficiency can be achieved at decreased air pressures and temperatures when compared with a gap spark igniter (for example, if the RF ignition system is used in a jet engine). Further, such increased combustion efficiency can be achieved at higher air pressures and temperatures when compared with a gap spark igniter. It is understood throughout this disclosure that where reference is made to “RF” or to microwaves, in alternate implementations, other wavelengths of electromagnetic waves outside of the RF range can be used alternatively or in addition to RF electromagnetic waves.
As described above, RF ignition systems can excite plasma. Plasma is one of the four fundamental states of matter (in addition to solid, liquid, and gas). Further, plasmas are mixtures of positively charged gas ions and negatively charged electrons. Because plasmas are mixtures of charged particles, plasmas have associated intrinsic electric fields. In addition, when the charged particles in the mixture move, plasmas also produce magnetic fields (for example, according to Ampere's law). Given the electromagnetic nature of plasmas, plasmas interact with, and can be manipulated by, external electric and magnetic fields. For example, placing a ferromagnetic material (for example, iron, cobalt, nickel, neodymium, samarium-cobalt, etc.) near a plasma can cause the plasma to be attracted to or repelled from the ferromagnetic material (for example, causing the plasma to move).
Plasmas can be formed in a variety of ways. One way of forming a plasma can include heating gases to a sufficiently high temperature (for example, depending on ambient pressure). Additionally or alternatively, forming a plasma can include exposing gases to a sufficiently strong electromagnetic field. Lightning is an environmental phenomenon involving plasma. One application of plasma can include neon signs. Further, because plasma is responsive to applied electromagnetic fields, plasma can be directed according to specific patterns. Hence, plasmas can also be used in technologies such as plasma televisions or plasma etching.
Plasmas can be characterized according to their temperature and electron density. For example, one type of plasma can be a “microwave-generated plasma” (for example, ranging from 5 eV to 15 eV in energy). Such a plasma can be generated by a QWCCR structure, for example.
An example implementation of a QWCCR structure 100 is illustrated in
As illustrated, an electrode 106 can be disposed at a distal end of the inner conductor 104. The electrode 106 can be made of a conductive material as described above (for example, the same conductive material as the inner conductor 104). For example, the electrode 106 can be machined with the inner conductor 104 as a single piece. In some implementations, as illustrated, the base conductor 110, the outer conductor 102, the inner conductor 104, and the electrode can be shorted together. For example, the base conductor 110 can short the outer conductor 102 to the inner conductor 104, in some implementations. When shorted together, these components can be directly electrically coupled to one another such that each of these components is at the same electric potential.
Further, in implementations where the base conductor 110, the outer conductor 102, and the inner conductor 104 (including the electrode 106) are shorted together, the base conductor 110, the outer conductor 102, and the inner conductor 104 (including the electrode 106) can be machined as a single piece. In addition, the electrode 106 can include a concentrator (for example, a tip, a point, or an edge), which can concentrate and enhance the electric field at one or more locations. Such an enhanced electric field can create conditions that promote the excitation of a plasma corona near the concentrator (for example, through a breakdown of a dielectric, such as air, that surrounds the concentrator). The concentrator can be a patterned or shaped portion of the electrode 106, for example. The electrode 106, including the concentrator, can be electromagnetically coupled to the inner conductor 104. In the present disclosure and claims, the electrode 106 and/or the concentrator can be described as being “configured to electromagnetically couple to” the inner conductor 104. This language is to be interpreted broadly as meaning that the electrode 106 and/or the concentrator: are presently electromagnetically coupled to the inner conductor 104, are always electromagnetically coupled to the inner conductor 104, can be selectively electromagnetically coupled to the inner conductor 104 (for example, using a switch), are only electromagnetically coupled to the inner conductor 104 when a power source is connected to the inner conductor 104, and/or are able to be electromagnetically coupled to the inner conductor 104 if one or more components are repositioned relative to one another. For example, the electrode 106 can be “configured to electromagnetically couple to” the inner conductor 104 if the electrode 106 is machined as a single piece with the inner conductor 104, if the electrode 106 is connected to the inner conductor 104 using a wire or other conducting mechanism, or if the electrode 106 is disposed sufficiently close to the inner conductor 104 such that the electrode 106 electromagnetically couples to one or more evanescent waves excited by the inner conductor 104 when the inner conductor 104 is connected to a power source.
As illustrated in
Further, as illustrated in
Plasmas (for example, plasma coronas generated by the QWCCR structure 100) can be used to ignite mixtures of air and fuel (for example, hydrocarbon fuel for use in a combustion process). Plasma-assisted ignition (for example, using a QWCCR structure 100) is fundamentally different from ignition using a gap spark plug. For example, efficient electron-impact excitation, dissociation of molecules, and ionization of atoms, which might not occur in ignition using gap spark plugs, can occur in plasma-assisted ignition. Further, in plasmas, an external electric field can accelerate the electrons and/or ions. Thus, using electric fields, energy within the plasma (for example, thermal energy) can be directed to specific locations (for example, within a combustion chamber).
There are a variety of mechanisms by which plasma can impart the energy necessary to ignite mixtures of air and fuel. For example, electrons can impart energy to molecules during collisions. However, this singular energy exchange might be relatively minor (for example, because an electron's mass is orders of magnitude less than a molecule's mass). So long as the rate at which electrons are imparting energy to the molecules is higher than the rate at which molecules are undergoing relaxation, a population distribution of the molecules (for example, a population distribution that differs from an initial Boltzmann distribution of the molecules) can arise. The molecules having higher energy, along with the dissociation and ionization processes, can emit ultraviolet (UV) radiation (for example, when undergoing relaxation) that affects mixtures of fuel and air. Further, gas heating and an increase in system reactivity can increase the likelihood of ignition and flame propagation. In addition, when the average electron energy within a plasma (for example, within a combustion chamber) exceeds 10 eV, gas ionization can be the predominant mechanism by which plasma is formed (over electron-impact excitation and dissociation of molecules).
Plasma-assisted ignition can have a variety of benefits over ignition using a gap spark plug. For example, in plasma-assisted ignition, a plasma corona that is generated can be physically larger (for example, in length, width, radius, and/or overall volumetric extent) than a typical spark from a gap spark plug. This can allow a more lean fuel mixture (also known as lower fuel-to-air ratio) to be burned once combustion occurs as compared with alternative ignition, for example. Also, because a larger energy can be energized in plasma-assisted ignition, stoichiometric ratio fuels can be combusted more fully, thereby creating fewer regulated pollutants (for example, creating less NOx to be expelled as exhaust) and/or leaving less unspent fuel.
Dielectric breakdown of air or another dielectric material near the electrode 106 of the QWCCR structure 100 can be a mechanism by which a plasma corona is excited near the concentrator of the QWCCR structure 100. Factors that impact the breakdown of a dielectric, such as dielectric breakdown of air, include free-electron population, electron diffusion, electron drift, electron attachment, and electron recombination. Free electrons in the free-electron population can collide with neutral particles or ions during ionization events. Such collisions can create additional free electrons, thereby increasing the likelihood of dielectric breakdown. Oppositely, electron diffusion and attachment can each be mechanisms by which free electrons recombine and are lost, thereby reducing the likelihood of dielectric breakdown.
As presently described, a plasma corona can be provided “proximate to” a distal end of the QWCCR structure 100, the electrode 106, and/or a concentrator of the QWCCR structure 100. In other words, the plasma corona could be described as being provided “nearby” or “at” a distal end of the QWCCR structure 100, the electrode 106, and/or a concentrator of the QWCCR structure 100. Further, this terminology is not to be viewed as limiting. For example, while the plasma corona is provided “proximate to” the QWCCR structure 100, this does not limit the plasma corona from extending away from the QWCCR structure 100 and/or from being moved to other locations that are farther from the QWCCR structure 100 after being provided “proximate to” the QWCCR structure 100.
When used to describe a relationship between a plasma corona and a distal end of the QWCCR structure 100, a relationship between a plasma corona and the electrode 106, a relationship between a plasma corona and a concentrator of the electrode 106, or similar relationships, the term “proximate” can describe the physical separation between the plasma corona and the other component. In various implementations, the physical separation can include different ranges. For example, a plasma corona provided “proximate to” the concentrator can be separated from the concentrator (in other words, can “stand off from” the concentrator) by less than 1.0 nanometer, by 1.0 nanometer to 10.0 nanometers, by 10.0 nanometers to 100.0 nanometers, by 100.0 nanometers to 1.0 micrometer, by 1.0 micrometer to 10.0 micrometers, by 10.0 micrometers to 100.0 micrometers, or by 100.0 micrometers to 1.0 millimeter. Additionally or alternatively, a plasma corona provided “proximate to” the concentrator can be separated from the concentrator by 0.01 times a width of the plasma corona to 0.1 times a width of the plasma corona, by 0.1 times a width of the plasma corona to 1.0 times the width of the plasma corona, or by 1.0 times a width of the plasma corona to 10.0 times a width of the plasma corona. Even further, a plasma corona provided “proximate to” the concentrator can be separated from the concentrator by 0.01 times a radius of the concentrator to 0.1 times a radius of the concentrator, by 0.1 times a radius of the concentrator to 1.0 times a radius of the concentrator, or by 1.0 times a radius of the concentrator to 10.0 times a radius of the concentrator.
It is understood that in various implementations, the plasma corona can emit light entirely within the visible spectrum, partially within the visible spectrum and partially outside the visible spectrum, or completely outside the visible spectrum. In other words, even if the plasma corona is “invisible” to the human eye and/or to optics that only sense light within the visible spectrum, it is not necessarily the case that the plasma corona is not being provided. IV. Mathematical Description of Example Resonator
In order for dielectric breakdown to occur, an electric field within the dielectric must be greater than or equal to an electric field breakdown threshold. An electric field generated by an alternating current (AC) source can be described by a root-mean-square (rms) value for electric field (Erms). The rms value for electric field (Erms) can be calculated according the following equation:
where T2−T1 represents the period over which the electric field is oscillating (for example, corresponding to the period of the AC source generating the electric field). As described mathematically above, the rms value for electric field (Erms) represents the quadratic mean of the electric field. Using the rms value for electric field, an effective electric field (Eeff) can be calculated that is approximately frequency independent (for example, by removing phase lag effects from the oscillating electric field):
where ω represents the angular frequency of the electric field (for example,
and vc represents the effective momentum collision frequency of the electrons and neutral particles. The angular frequency (ω) of the electric field can correspond to the frequency of an excitation source used to excite the electric field (for example, the QWCCR structure 100). Using this effective electric field (Eeff), DC breakdown voltages for various gases (and potentially other dielectrics) can be related to AC breakdown values for uniform electric fields. For air, vc≈5·109×p, where p represents the pressure (in torr). At atmospheric pressure (for example, around 760 torr) or above and excitation frequencies of below 1 THz, the effective momentum collision frequency of the electrons and neutral particles (vc) will dominate the denominator of the fractional coefficient of E ms. Therefore, an approximation of the rms breakdown field (Eb) can be used. The rms breakdown field (Eb), in V/cm, of a uniform microwave field in the collision regime can be given by:
where T is the temperature in Kelvin.
An analytical description of the electromagnetics of the QWCCR structure 100 follows.
If fringing electromagnetic fields are assumed to be small, the lowest quarter-wave resonance in a coaxial cavity is a transverse electromagnetic mode (TEM mode) (as opposed to a transverse electric mode (TE mode) or a transverse magnetic mode (TM mode)). The TEM mode is the dominant mode in a coaxial cavity and has no cutoff frequency (ωc). In the TEM mode (as illustrated in
where H is a phasor representing the magnetic field vector, E is a phasor representing the electric field vector, âφ represents a unit vector in the φ direction (labeled in
where λ is the wavelength), I0 represents the maximum current in the cavity, V0 represents the maximum voltage in the cavity, and z represents a distance along the QWCCR structure 100 in the z direction (labeled in
In various implementations, various electromagnetic modes of the QWCCR structure 100 can be excited in order to achieve various electromagnetic properties. In some implementations, for instance, a single electromagnetic mode can be excited, whereas in alternate implementations, a plurality of electromagnetic modes can be excited. For example, in some implementations, the TE01 mode (as illustrated in
Quality factor (Q) can be defined as:
where ω is the angular frequency, U is the time-average energy, and PL is the time-average power loss. Quality factor (Q) can be used to measure goodness of a resonator cavity. Other formulations of goodness measurement can also be used (for example, based on full-width, half-max (FWHM) or a 3 decibel (dB) bandwidth of cavity resonance). In some implementations, the quality factor (Q) can be maximized when the ratio of the inner radius of the outer conductor ‘b’ to the radius of the inner conductor ‘a’ is approximately equal to 4. However, it will be understood that many other ways to adjust and/or maximize quality factor (Q) are possible and contemplated in the present disclosure.
At resonance, the stored energy of the QWCCR structure 100 oscillates between electrical energy (Ue) (within the electric field) and magnetic energy (Um) (within the magnetic field). Time-average stored energy in the QWCCR structure 100 can be calculated using the following:
where μ is magnetic permeability and E is dielectric permittivity. By inserting the values for electric field and magnetic field from above, and integrating over the entire volume of the QWCCR structure 100, the following expression can be obtained:
where b represents the inner radius of the outer conductor 102 of the QWCCR structure 100 (as illustrated in
Now, by equating the two above expressions for U, the following relationship can be expressed:
Further, in recognizing that
where c is the speed of light;
where η is the impedance of the dielectric between the inner conductor 104 and the outer conductor 102 of the QWCCR structure 100, the following relationship for the peak potential (V0) can be identified:
Given that electric field decays as the distance from the peak potential (V0) increases, the largest value of electric field corresponding to the peak potential (V0) occurs exactly at the surface of the inner conductor (for example, at radius a, as illustrated in
If the above peak value of electric field (Ea) meets or exceeds the above-described rms breakdown field (Eb), a dielectric breakdown can occur. For example, a dielectric breakdown of the air surrounding the tip of the QWCCR structure 100 can result in a plasma corona being excited. As indicated in the above equation for peak electric field (Ea), the smaller the radius a of the inner conductor 104, the smaller the inner radius b of outer conductor 102, the higher the quality factor (Q) of the QWCCR structure 100, and the larger the time-average power loss (PL), the more likely it is that breakdown can occur (for example, because the peak value of electric field (Ea) is larger). A larger excitation power can correspond to a larger time-average power loss (PL) in the QWCCR structure 100, for example.
The power loss (PL) can include ohmic losses (Pσ) on conductive surfaces (for example, the surface of the outer conductor 102, the surface of the inner conductor 104, and/or the surface of the base conductor 110, as illustrated in
where μc is the magnetic permeability of the respective conductor and σc is the conductivity of the respective conductor. The power lost by each conductor can be calculated according to the following:
where H// is the magnetic field parallel to the surface of the conductor. Thus, the total power loss in all conductors can be represented by:
Further, if the dielectric 108 is an isotropic, low-loss dielectric, the dielectric 108 can be characterized by its dielectric constant (ε) and its loss tangent (tan(δe)), where the loss tangent (tan(δe)) represents conductivity and alternating molecular dipole losses. Using dielectric constant (ε) and loss tangent (tan(δe)), an effective dielectric conductivity (σe) can be approximately defined as:
σe≈ω·ε·tan(δe)
Based on the above, the power dissipated in the dielectric can be calculated according to the following:
In order to combine all quality factors of the QWCCR structure 100 into a total internal quality factor (Qint), the following relationship can be used:
where Qinner−1, Qouter−1, Qbase−1, and Qσ
Based on the definitions of the individual quality factors above, the individual contribution of the outer conductor quality factor (Qouter) to the internal quality factor (Qint) can be greater than the individual contribution of the inner conductor quality factor (Qinner). Thus, to increase the internal quality factor (Qint), a material with higher conductivity can be used for the inner conductor 104 than is used for the outer conductor 102. Further, the base conductor 110 quality factor (Qbase) and the dielectric 108 quality factor (Qδ
and in terms of
The QWCCR structure 100 can also radiate electromagnetic waves (for example, from a distal, non-closed end opposite the base conductor 110). For example, if the QWCCR structure 100 is being excited by an RF power source (for example, a signal generator oscillating at radio frequencies), the QWCCR structure 100 can radiate microwaves from a distal end (for example, from an aperture of the distal end) of the QWCCR structure 100. Such radiation can lead to power losses, which can be approximated using admittance. Assuming that the transverse dimensions of the QWCCR structure 100 are significantly smaller than the wavelength (λ) being used to excite the QWCCR structure 100 (in other words, a<<λ and b<<λ), the real part (Gr) and imaginary part (Br) of admittance can be represented by:
where E(x) is the complete elliptical integral of the second kind. Namely:
Further, the line integral of the electric field from the inner conductor 104 to the outer conductor 102 can be used to determine the potential difference (Vab) across the shunt admittance corresponding to the electromagnetic waves radiated.
Using the potential difference (Vab) across the shunt admittance corresponding to the electromagnetic waves radiated, the power going to radiation (Pr) can be represented by:
In addition, using the potential difference (Vab) across the shunt admittance corresponding to the electromagnetic waves radiated, the energy stored during radiation (Urad) can be represented by:
Based on the above, the overall quality factor of the QWCCR structure 100 (QQWCCR) can be described by the following:
If the energy stored during radiation (Urad) is small compared with the energy stored in the interior of the QWCCR structure 100 (U), the radiation power (Prad) can be treated similarly to the other losses. Further, the energy stored during radiation (Urad) can be neglected in the above equation:
Still further, the quality factor of the radiation component (Qrad) can be described using the above relationship for quality factors:
Even further, using the above-referenced quality factors, the total quality factor of the QWCCR structure 100 (QQWCCR) can be approximated by:
Based on the above relationships, it can be shown that one method of minimizing losses due to radiation of electromagnetic waves by the QWCCR structure 100 is to minimize the inner radius b of the outer conductor 102 with respect to the excitation wavelength (λ). Another way of minimizing losses due to radiation of electromagnetic waves is to select an inner radius b of the outer conductor 102 that is close in dimension to the radius a of the inner conductor 104.
Various physical quantities and dimensions of the QWCCR structure 100 can be adjusted to modify performance of the QWCCR structure 100. For example, physical quantities and dimensions can be modified to maximize and/or optimize the total quality factor of the QWCCR structure 100 (QQWCCR). In some implementations, different dielectrics can be inserted into the QWCCR structure 100. In one implementation, the dielectric 108 can include a composite of multiple dielectric materials. For example, a half of the dielectric 108 near a proximal end of the QWCCR structure 100 can include alumina ceramic while a half of the dielectric 108 near a distal end of the QWCCR structure 100 can include air. The resonant frequency can be based on the dimensions and the fabrication materials of the QWCCR structure 100. Hence, modification of the dielectric 108 can modify a resonant frequency of the QWCCR structure 100. In some implementations, the resonant frequency can be 2.45 GHz based on the dimensions of the QWCCR structure 100. In other implementations, the resonant frequency of the QWCCR structure 100 could be within an inclusive range between 1 GHz to 100 GHz. In still other implementations, the resonant frequency of the QWCCR structure 100 could be within an inclusive range of 100 MHz to 1 GHz or an inclusive range of 100 GHz to 300 GHz. However, other resonant frequencies are contemplated within the context of the present disclosure.
An RF power source exciting the QWCCR structure 100 can generate a standing electromagnetic wave within the QWCCR structure 100. In some implementations, the resonant frequency of the QWCCR structure 100 can be designed to match the frequency of an RF power source that is exciting the QWCCR structure 100 (for example, to maximize power transferred to the QWCCR structure 100). For example, if a desired excitation frequency corresponds to a wavelength of λ0, dimensions of the QWCCR structure 100 can be modified such that the electrical length of the QWCCR structure 100 is an odd-integer multiple of quarter wavelengths (for example, ¼λ0, ¾λ0, 5/4λ0, 7/4λ0, 9/4λ0, 11/4λ0, 13/4λ0, etc.). The electrical length is a measure of the length of a resonator in terms of the wavelength of an electromagnetic wave used to excite the resonator. The QWCCR structure 100 can be designed for a given resonant frequency based on the dimensions of the QWCCR structure 100 (for example, adjusting dimensions of the inner conductor 104, the outer conductor 102, or the dielectric 108) or the materials of the QWCCR structure 100 (for example, adjusting materials of the inner conductor 104, the outer conductor 102, or the dielectric 108).
In other implementations, the resonant frequency of the QWCCR structure 100 can be designed or adjusted such that its resonant frequency does not match the frequency of an RF power source that is exciting the QWCCR structure 100 (for example, to reduce power transferred to the QWCCR structure 100). Analogously, the frequency of an RF power source can be de-tuned relative to the resonant frequency of a QWCCR structure 100 that is being excited by the RF power source. Additionally or alternatively, the physical quantities and dimensions of the QWCCR structure 100 can be modified to enhance the amount of energy radiated (for example, from the distal end) in the form of electromagnetic waves (for example, microwaves) from the QWCCR structure 100. As an example, one or more elements of the QWCCR structure 100 could be movable or otherwise adjustable so as to modify the resonant properties of the QWCCR structure 100. Enhancing the amount of energy radiated might be done at the expense of maximizing the electric field at a concentrator of the electrode 106 at the distal end of the inner conductor 104. For example, some implementations can include slots or openings in the outer conductor 102 to increase the amount of radiated energy despite possibly reducing a quality factor of the QWCCR structure 100.
In still other implementations, the physical quantities and dimensions of the QWCCR structure 100 can be designed in such a way so as to enhance the intensity of an electric field at a concentrator of the electrode 106 of the QWCCR structure 100. Enhancing the electric field at a concentrator of the electrode 106 of the QWCCR structure 100 can result in an increase in plasma corona excitation (for example, an increase in dielectric breakdown near the concentrator), when the QWCCR structure 100 is excited with sufficiently high RF power/current. To increase electric field at a concentrator of the electrode 106 of the QWCCR structure 100, a radius of the concentrator can be minimized (for example, configured as a very sharp structure, such as a tip). Additionally or alternatively, to increase the electric field at a tip of the QWCCR structure 100 (for example, thereby increasing the intensity and/or size of an excited plasma corona), the intrinsic impedance (r1) of the dielectric 108 can be increased, the power used to excite the QWCCR structure 100 can be increased, and the total quality factor of the QWCCR structure 100 (QQWCCR) can be increased (for example, by increasing the volume energy storage (U) of the cavity or by minimizing the surface and radiation losses).
Further, the shunt capacitance (C) of a circular coaxial cavity (for example, in farads/meter, and neglecting fringing fields) can be expressed as follows:
where ε0 represents the permittivity of free space, εr represents the relative dielectric constant of the dielectric 108 between the inner conductor 104 and the outer conductor 102, b is the inner radius of the outer conductor 102, and a is the radius of the inner conductor 104 (as illustrated in
Similarly, the shunt inductance (L) of a circular coaxial cavity (for example, in henrys/meter) can be expressed as follows:
where μ0 represents the permeability of free space, μr represents t e relative permeability of the dielectric 108 between the inner conductor 104 and the outer conductor 102, b is the inner radius of the outer conductor 102, and a is the radius of the inner conductor 104 (as illustrated in
Based on the above, the complex impedance (Z) of a circular coaxial cavity (for example, in ohms, Ω) can be expressed as follows:
where G represents the conductance per unit length of the dielectric between the inner conductor and the outer conductor, R represents the resistance per unit length of the QWCCR structure 100, j represents the imaginary unit (for example, √{square root over (−1)}), ω represents the frequency at which the QWCCR structure 100 is being excited, L represents the shunt inductance of the QWCCR structure 100, and C represents the shunt capacitance of the QWCCR structure 100.
At very high frequencies (for example, GHz frequencies) the complex impedance (Z) can be approximated by:
where Z0 represents the characteristic impedance of the QWCCR structure 100 (in other words, the complex impedance (Z) of the QWCCR structure 100 at high frequencies).
As described above, the shunt inductance (L) and the shunt capacitance (C) of the QWCCR structure 100 depend on the relative permeability (μr) and the relative dielectric constant (εr), respectively, of the dielectric 108 between the inner conductor 104 and the outer conductor 102. Thus, any modification to either the relative permeability (μr) or the relative dielectric constant (εr) of the dielectric 108 between the inner conductor 104 and the outer conductor 102 can result in a modification of the characteristic impedance (Z0) of the QWCCR structure 100. Such modifications to impedance can be measured using an impedance measurement device (for example, an oscilloscope, a spectrum analyzer, and/or an AC volt meter).
The above characteristic impedance (Z0) represents an impedance calculated by neglecting fringing fields. In some applications and implementations, the fringing fields can be non-negligible (for example, the fringing fields can significantly impact the impedance of the QWCCR structure 100). Further, in such implementations, the composition of the materials surrounding the QWCCR structure 100 can affect the characteristic impedance (Z0) of the QWCCR structure 100. Measurements of such changes to characteristic impedance (Z0) can provide information regarding the environment (for example, a combustion chamber) surrounding the QWCCR structure 100 (for example, the temperature, pressure, or atomic composition of the environment). A change in the characteristic impedance (Z0) can coincide with a change in the cutoff frequency, resonant frequency, short-circuit condition, open-circuit condition, lumped-circuit model, mode distribution, etc. of the QWCCR structure 100.
As illustrated in
As illustrated, the power of the electromagnetic waves radiated from the distal end of the QWCCR structure 100 decreases exponentially the further the excitation frequency (ω) is from the resonant frequency (ω0). However, the power of the electromagnetic waves is not necessarily zero as soon as you move away from resonance. Hence, it is understood that even when excited near the quarter-wave resonance condition (in other words, proximate to the quarter-wave resonance condition), rather than exactly at the resonance condition, the QWCCR structure 100 can still radiate electromagnetic waves with non-zero power and/or provide a plasma corona, depending on arrangement.
When the QWCCR structure 100 is being excited such that it provides a plasma corona proximate to the distal end (for example, at the electrode 106), a plot with a shape similar to that of
It is understood that when the term “proximate” is used to describe a relationship between a wavelength of a signal (for example, a signal used to excite the QWCCR structure 100) and a resonant wavelength of a resonator (for example, the QWCCR structure 100), the term “proximate” can describe a difference in length. For example, if the wavelength of the signal is “proximate to an odd-integer multiple of one-quarter of the resonant wavelength,” the wavelength of the signal can be equal to, within 0.001% of, within 0.01% of, within 0.1% of, within 1.0% of, within 5.0% of, within 10.0% of, within 15.0% of, within 20.0% of, and/or within 25.0% of one-quarter of the resonant wavelength. Additionally or alternatively, if the wavelength of the signal is “proximate to an odd-integer multiple of one-quarter of the resonant wavelength,” the wavelength of the signal can be within 0.1 nm, within 1.0 nm, within 10.0 nm, within 0.1 micrometers, within 1.0 micrometers, within 10.0 micrometers, within 0.1 millimeters, within 1.0 millimeters, and/or within 1.0 centimeters of one-quarter of the resonant wavelength, depending on context (for example, depending on the resonant wavelength). Still further, if the wavelength of the signal is “proximate to an odd-integer multiple of one-quarter of the resonant wavelength,” the wavelength of the signal can be a multiple of one-quarter of the resonant wavelength that is an odd number plus or minus 0.5, an odd number plus or minus 0.1, an odd number plus or minus 0.01, an odd number plus or minus 0.001, and/or an odd number plus or minus 0.0001.
The quality factor of the QWCCR structure 100 (QQWCCR), described above, can be used to describe the width and/or the sharpness of the resonance (in other words, how quickly the power drops off as you excite the QWCCR structure 100 further and further from the resonance condition). For example, a square root of the quality factor can correspond to the voltage modification experienced at the electrode 106 of the QWCCR structure 100 when the QWCRR structure 100 is excited at the quarter-wave resonant condition. Additionally, the quality factor may be equal to the resonant frequency (ω0) divided by full width at half maximum (FWHM). The FWHM is equal to the width of the curve in terms of frequency between the two points on the curve where the power is equal to 50% of the maximum power, as illustrated). The 50% power maximum point can also be referred to as the −3 decibel (dB) point, because it is the point at which the maximum voltage at the distal end of the QWCCR structure 100 decreases by 3 dB (or 29.29% for voltage) and the maximum power radiated by the QWCCR structure 100 decreases by 3 dB (or 50% for power). In various implementations, the FWHM of the QWCCR structure 100 could have various values. For example, the FWHM could be between 5 MHz and 10 MHz, between 10 MHz and 20 MHz, between 20 MHz and 40 MHz, between 40 MHz and 60 MHz, between 60 MHz and 80 MHz, or between 80 MHz and 100 MHz. Other FWHM values are also possible.
Further, the quality factor of the QWCCR structure 100 (QQWCCR) can also take various values in various implementations. For example, the quality factor could be between 25 and 50, between 50 and 75, between 75 and 100, between 100 and 125, between 125 and 150, between 150 and 175, between 175 and 200, between 200 and 300, between 300 and 400, between 400 and 500, between 500 and 600, between 600 and 700, between 700 and 800, between 800 and 900, between 900 and 1000, or between 1000 and 1100. Other quality factor values are also possible.
It is understood that, in alternate implementations, alternate structures (for example, alternate quarter-wave structures) can be used to emit electromagnetic radiation and/or excite plasma coronas (for example, other structures that concentrate electric field at specific locations using points or tips with sufficiently small radii). For example, other quarter-wave resonant structures, such as a coaxial-cavity resonator (sometimes referred to as a “coaxial resonator”), a dielectric resonator, a crystal resonator, a ceramic resonator, a surface-acoustic-wave resonator, a yttrium-iron-garnet resonator, a rectangular-waveguide cavity resonator, a parallel-plate resonator, a gap-coupled microstrip resonator, etc. can be used to excite a plasma corona.
Further, it is understood that wherever in this disclosure the terms “resonator,” “QWCCR,” “QWCCR structure,” and “coaxial resonator,” are used, any of the structures enumerated in the preceding paragraph could be used, assuming appropriate modifications are made to a corresponding system. In addition, the terms “resonator,” “QWCCR,” “QWCCR structure,” and “coaxial resonator” are not to be construed as inclusive or all-encompassing, but rather as examples of a particular structure that could be included in a particular implementation. Still further, when a “QWCCR structure” is described, the QWCCR structure can correspond to a coaxial resonator, a coaxial resonator with an additional base conductor, a coaxial resonator excited by a signal with a wavelength that corresponds to an odd-integer multiple of one-quarter (¼) of a length of the coaxial resonator, and other structures, in various implementations.
Additionally, whenever any “QWCCR,” “QWCCR structure,” “coaxial resonator,” “resonator,” or any of the specific resonators in this disclosure or in the claims are described as being “configured such that, when the resonator is excited by the radio-frequency power source with a signal having a wavelength proximate to an odd-integer multiple of one-quarter (¼) of the resonant wavelength, the resonator provides at least one of a plasma corona or electromagnetic waves,” some or all of the following are contemplated, depending on context. First, the corresponding resonator could be configured to provide a plasma corona when excited by the radio-frequency power source with a signal having a wavelength proximate to an odd-integer multiple of one-quarter (¼) of a resonant wavelength of the resonator. Second, the corresponding resonator could be configured to provide electromagnetic waves when excited by the radio-frequency power source with a signal having a wavelength proximate to an odd-integer multiple of one-quarter (¼) of a resonant wavelength of the resonator. Third, the corresponding resonator could be configured to provide, when excited by the radio-frequency power source with a signal having a wavelength proximate to an odd-integer multiple of one-quarter (¼) of a resonant wavelength of the resonator, both a plasma corona and electromagnetic waves.
In some implementations, the coaxial resonator 201 can be used as an antenna (for example, instead of or in addition to generating a plasma corona). As an antenna, the coaxial resonator 201 can radiate electromagnetic waves. The electromagnetic waves can consequently influence charged particles. As illustrated in the system 200 of
The signal generator 202 can be a device that produces periodic waveforms (for example, using an oscillator circuit). In various implementations, the signal generator 202 can produce a sinusoidal waveform, a square waveform, a triangular waveform, a pulsed waveform, or a sawtooth waveform. Further, the signal generator 202 can produce waveforms with various frequencies (for example, frequencies between 1 Hz and 1 THz). The electromagnetic waves radiated from the coaxial resonator 201 can be based on the waveform produced by the signal generator 202. For example, if the waveforms produced by the signal generator 202 are sinusoidal waves having frequencies between 300 MHz and 300 GHz (for example, between 1 GHz and 100 GHz), the electromagnetic waves radiated by coaxial resonator 201 can be microwaves. In various implementations, the signal generator 202 can, itself, be powered by an AC power source or a DC power source.
Depending on the signal used by the signal generator 202 to excite the coaxial resonator 201, the coaxial resonator 201 can additionally excite one or more plasma coronas. For example, if a large enough voltage is used to excite the coaxial resonator 201, a plasma corona can be excited at the distal end of the electrode 106 (for example, at a concentrator of the electrode 106). In some implementations, a voltage step-up device can be electrically coupled between the signal generator 202 and the coaxial resonator 201. In such scenarios, the voltage step-up device can be operable to increase an amplitude of the AC voltage used to excite the coaxial resonator 201.
In some implementations, the signal generator 202 can include one or more of the following: an internal power supply; an oscillator (for example, an RF oscillator, a surface acoustic wave resonator, or a yttrium-iron-garnet resonator); and an amplifier. The oscillator can generate a time-varying current and/or voltage (for example, using an oscillator circuit). The internal power supply can provide power to the oscillator. In some implementations, the internal power supply can include, for example, a DC battery (for example, a marine battery, an automotive battery, an aircraft battery, etc.), an alternator, a generator, a solar cell, and/or a fuel cell. In other implementations, the internal power supply can include a rectified AC power supply (for example, an electrical connection to a wall socket passed through a rectifier). The amplifier can magnify the power that is output by the oscillator (for example, to provide sufficient power to the coaxial resonator 201 to excite plasma coronas). For example, the amplifier can multiply the current and/or the voltage output by the oscillator. Additionally, in some implementations, the signal generator 202 can include a dedicated controller that executes instructions to control the signal generator 202.
Additionally or alternatively, as illustrated in the system 300 of
In some implementations, the DC power source 302 can include a dedicated controller that executes instructions to control the DC power source 302. The DC power source 302 can provide a bias signal (for example, corresponding to a DC bias condition) for the coaxial resonator 201. For example, a DC voltage difference between the inner conductor 104 and the outer conductor 102 of the coaxial resonator 201 in
By providing the coaxial resonator 201 with a bias signal, an increased voltage can be presented at a concentrator of the electrode 106, thereby yielding an increased electric field at the concentrator of the electrode 106. The total electric field at the concentrator can thus be a sum of the electric field from the bias signal of the DC power source 302 and the electric field from the signal generator 202 exciting the coaxial resonator 201 at a resonance condition (for example, exciting the coaxial resonator 201 at a quarter-wave resonance condition so the electric field of the signal from the signal generator 202 reaches a maximum at the distal end of the coaxial resonator 201). Because of this increased total electric field, an excitation of a plasma corona near the concentrator can be more probable.
As an alternative, rather than using a bias signal, the signal generator 202 can simply excite the coaxial resonator 201 using a higher voltage. However, this might use considerably more power than providing a bias signal and augmenting that bias signal with an AC voltage oscillation.
In some implementations, the DC power source 302 can be switchable (for example, can generate the bias signal when switched on and not generate the bias signal when switched off). As such, the DC power source 302 can be switched on when a plasma corona output is desired from coaxial resonator 201 and can be switched off when a plasma corona output is not desired from coaxial resonator 201. For example, the DC power source 302 can be switched on during an ignition sequence (for example, a sequence where fuel is being ignited within a combustion chamber to begin combustion), but switched off during a reforming sequence (for example, a sequence in which electromagnetic radiation is being used to chemically modify fuel). Further, in some implementations, the electric field at the concentrator of the electrode 106 used to initiate the plasma corona can be larger than the electric field at the concentrator used to sustain the plasma corona. Hence, in some implementations, the DC power source 302 can be switched on in order to excite the plasma corona, but switched off while the plasma corona is maintained by the signal from the signal generator 202.
In alternate implementations, the system 200 of
In alternate implementations, the negative terminals of the signal generator 202 and the DC power source 302 can instead be connected to the inner conductor 324 and the positive terminals can be connected to the outer conductor 322. In this way, the signal generator 202 and the DC power source 302 can instead apply a negative voltage (relative to ground) to the electrode 326 and/or inner conductor 324, rather than a positive voltage (relative to ground). Further, in some implementations, the negative terminals of the DC power source 302 and the signal generator 202 and/or the inner conductor 324 might not be grounded.
As stated above, the DC power source 302 can be switchable. In this way a positive bias signal or a negative bias signal can be selectively applied to the inner conductor 324 and/or the electrode 326 relative to the outer conductor 322. When the DC power source 302 is switched on, a bias condition can be present, and when the DC power source 302 is switched off, a bias condition might not be present. A bias signal provided by the DC power source 302 can increase the electric potential, and thus the electric field, at the electrode 326 (for example, at a concentrator of the electrode 106, such as a tip, edge, or blade). By increasing the electric field at the electrode 326, dielectric breakdown and potentially plasma excitation can be more prevalent. Thus, by switching on the DC power source 302, the amount of plasma excited at a plasma corona can be enhanced.
In some implementations, the voltage of the DC power source 302 can range from +1 kV to +100 kV. Alternatively, the voltage of the DC power source 302 can range from −1 kV to −100 kV Even further, the voltage of the DC power source 302 can be adjustable in some implementations. Furthermore, the voltage of the DC power source 302 can be pulsed, ramped, etc. For example, the voltage can be adjusted by a controller connected to the DC power source 302. In such implementations, the voltage of the DC power source 302 can be adjusted by the controller according to sensor data (for example, sensor data corresponding to temperature, pressure, fuel composition, etc.).
As illustrated in
Further, a “communicative coupling,” as presently disclosed, is understood to cover a broad variety of connections between components, based on context. “Communicative couplings” can include direct and/or indirect couplings between components in various implementations. In some implementations, for example, a “communicative coupling” can include an electrical coupling between two (or more) components (for example, a physical connection between the two (or more) components that allows for electrical interaction, such as a direct wired connection used to read a sensor value from a sensor). Additionally or alternatively, a “communicative coupling” can include an electromagnetic coupling between two (or more) components (for example, a connection between the two (or more) components that allows for electromagnetic interaction, such as a wireless interaction based on optical coupling, inductive coupling, capacitive coupling, or coupling though evanescent electric and/or magnetic fields). In addition, a “communicative coupling” can include a connection (for example, over the public internet) in which one or more of the coupled components can transmit signals/data to and/or receive signals/data from one or more of the other coupled components. In various implementations, the “communicative coupling” can be unidirectional (in other words, one component sends signals and another component receives the signals) or bidirectional (in other words, both components send and receive signals). Other directionality combinations are also possible for communicative couplings involving more than two components. One example of a communicative coupling could be the controller 402 communicatively coupled to the coaxial resonator 201, where the controller 402 reads a voltage and/or current value from the resonator directly. Another example of a communicative coupling could be the controller 402 communicating with a remote server over the public Internet to access a look-up table. Additional communicative couplings are also contemplated in the present disclosure.
In some implementations, the controller 402 can control one or more settings of the signal generator 202 (for example, waveform shape, output frequency, output power amplitude, output current amplitude, or output voltage amplitude) or the DC power source 302 (for example, switching on or off or adjusting the level of the bias signal). For example, the controller 402 can control the bias signal of the DC power source 302 (for example, a voltage of the bias signal) based on a calculated voltage used to excite a plasma corona (for example, based on conditions within a combustion chamber). The calculated voltage can account for the voltage amplitude being output by the signal generator 202, in some implementations. The calculated voltage can ensure, for example, that the bias signal has a small effect on any standing electromagnetic wave formed within the coaxial resonator 201 based on an output of the signal generator 202.
The controller 402 can be located nearby the signal generator 202, the DC power source 302, the impedance sensor 404, and/or the one or more other sensors 406. For example, the controller 402 may be connected by a wire connection to the signal generator 202, the DC power source 302, the impedance sensor 404, and/or the one or more other sensors 406. Alternatively, the controller 402 can be remotely located relative to the signal generator 202, the DC power source 302, the impedance sensor 404, and/or the one or more other sensors 406. For example, the controller 402 can communicate with the signal generator 202, the DC power source 302, the impedance sensor 404, and/or the one or more other sensors 406 over BLUETOOTH®, over BLUETOOTH LOW ENERGY (BLE)®, over the public Internet, over WIFI® (IEEE 802.11 standards), over a wireless wide area network (WWAN), etc.
In some implementations, the controller 402 can be communicatively coupled to fewer components within the system 400 (for example, only communicatively coupled to the DC power source 302). Further, in implementations that include fewer components than illustrated in the system 400 (for example, in implementations, having only the coaxial resonator 201, the signal generator 202, and the controller 402), the controller 402 can interact with fewer components of the system 400. For instance, the controller can interact only with the signal generator 202.
The impedance sensor 404 can be connected to the coaxial resonator 201 (for example, one lead to the inner conductor 324 of the coaxial resonator 201 and one lead to the outer conductor 322 of the coaxial resonator 201) to measure an impedance of the coaxial resonator 201. In some implementations, the impedance sensor 404 can include an oscilloscope, a spectrum analyzer, and/or an AC volt meter. The impedance measured by the impedance sensor 404 can be transmitted to the controller 402 (for example, as a digital signal or an analog signal). In some implementations, the impedance sensor 404 can be integrated with the controller 402 or connected to the controller 402 through a printed circuit board (PCB) or other mechanism. The impedance data can be used by the controller 402 to perform calculations and to adjust control of the signal generator 202 and/or the DC power source 302.
Similarly, the other sensors 406 can also transmit data to the controller 402. Analogous to the impedance sensor 404, in some implementations, the other sensors 406 can be integrated with the controller 402 or connected to the controller 402 through a PCB or other mechanism. The other sensors 406 can include a variety of sensors, such as one or more of: a fuel gauge, a tachometer (for example, to measure revolutions per minute (RPM)), an altimeter, a barometer, a thermometer, a sensor that measures fuel composition, a gas chromatograph, a sensor measuring fuel-to-air ratio in a given fuel/air mixture, an anemometer, a torque sensor, a vibrometer, an accelerometer, or a load cell.
In some implementations, the controller 402 can be powered by the DC power source 302. In other implementations, the controller 402 can be independently powered by a separate DC power source or an AC power source (for example, rectified within the controller 402).
As an example, a possible implementation of the controller 402 is illustrated in
The processor 452 can include one or more central processing units (CPUs), such as one or more general purpose processors and/or one or more dedicated processors (for example, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), or network processors). The processor 452 can be configured to execute instructions (for example, instructions stored within the memory 454) to perform various actions. Rather than a processor 452, some implementations can include hardware logic (for example, one or more resistor-inductor-capacitor (RLC) circuits, flip-flops, latches, etc.) that performs actions (for example, based on the inputs from the impedance sensor 404 or the other sensors 406).
The memory 454 can store instructions that are executable by the processor 452 to carry out the various methods, processes, or operations presently disclosed. Alternatively, the method, processes, or operations can be defined by hardware, firmware, or any combination of hardware, firmware, or software. Further, the memory 454 can store data related to the signal generator 202 (for example, control signals), the DC power source 302 (for example, switching signals), the impedance sensor 404 (for example, look-up tables related to changes in impedance and/or a characteristic impedance of the coaxial resonator 201 based on certain environmental factors), and/or the other sensors 406 (for example, a look-up table of typical wind speeds based on elevation).
The memory 454 can include non-volatile memory. For example, the memory 454 can include a read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a hard drive (for example, hard disk), and/or a solid-state drive (SSD). Additionally or alternatively, the memory 454 can include volatile memory. For example, the memory 454 can include a random-access memory (RAM), flash memory, dynamic random-access memory (DRAM), and/or static random-access memory (SRAM). In some implementations, the memory 454 can be partially or wholly integrated with the processor 452.
The network interface 456 can enable the controller 402 to communicate with the other components of the system 400 and/or with outside computing device(s). The network interface 456 can include one or more ports (for example, serial ports) and/or an independent network interface controller (for example, an Ethernet controller). In some implementations, the network interface 456 can be communicatively coupled to the impedance sensor 404 or one or more of the other sensors 406. Additionally or alternatively, the network interface 456 can be communicatively coupled to the signal generator 202, the DC power source 302, or an outside computing device (for example, a user device). Communicative couplings between the network interface 456 and other components can be wireless (for example, over WIFI®, BLUETOOTH®, BLUETOOTH LOW ENERGY (BLE)®, or a WWAN) or wireline (for example, over token ring, t-carrier connection, Ethernet, a trace in a PCB, or a wire connection).
In some implementations, the controller 402 can also include a user-input device (not shown). For example, the user-input device can include a keyboard, a mouse, a touch screen, etc. Further, in some implementations, the controller 402 can include a display or other user-feedback device (for example, one or more status lights, a speaker, a printer, etc.) (not shown). That status of the controller 402 can alternatively be provided to a user device through the network interface 456. For example, a user device such as a personal computer or a mobile computing device can communicate with the controller 402 through the network interface 456 to retrieve the values of one or more of the other sensors 406 (for example, to be displayed on a display of the user device).
VI. Resonators with Fuel Injection
As illustrated in
In some implementations, the fuel conduit 506 can inject fuel (for example, into a combustion chamber) at one or more outlets 508 defined within the electrode 106 (for example, within a concentrator of the electrode 106). By conveying fuel through the fuel conduit 506 and out one or more outlets 508, fuel can be introduced proximate to a source of ignition energy (for example, proximate to a plasma corona generated near a concentrator of the electrode 106), which can allow for efficient combustion and ignition. In alternate implementations, one or more outlets can be defined with other locations of the fuel conduit 506 (for example, so as not to interfere with the electric field at the concentrator of the electrode 106).
In some implementations, the fuel conduit 506 can act, at least in part, as a Faraday cage (for example, by encapsulating the fuel within a conductor that makes up the fuel conduit 506) to prevent electromagnetic radiation in the QWCCR structure 100 from interacting with the fuel while the fuel is transiting the fuel conduit 506. In other structures, the fuel conduit 506 can allow electromagnetic radiation to interact with (for example, reform) the fuel within the fuel conduit 506.
In some implementations, the QWCCR structure 100 can include multiple fuel conduits 506 (for example, multiple fuel conduits running from the proximal end of the QWCCR structure 100 to the distal end of the QWCCR structure 100). Additionally or alternatively, one or more fuel conduits 506 can be positioned within the dielectric 108 or within the outer conductor 102. As described above, the outlet(s) 508 of the fuel conduit(s) 506 can be oriented in such as a way as to expel fuel toward concentrators (for example, tips, edges, or points) of one or more electrodes 106 (for example, toward regions where plasma coronas are likely to be excited).
The first resonator 602 and the second resonator 604 are defined by a common outer conductor wall structure 608. The outer conductor wall structure 608 includes a first cylindrical wall 610 and a second cylindrical wall 612 centered on the longitudinal axis 606. The first cylindrical wall 610 is constructed of a conducting material and surrounds a first cylindrical cavity 614 centered on the longitudinal axis 606. The first cylindrical cavity 614 is filled with a dielectric 616 having a relative dielectric constant approximately equal to four (εr≈4), for example.
In the example implementation of
The second cylindrical wall 612 is constructed of a conducting material and surrounds a second cylindrical cavity 620 that is also centered on the longitudinal axis 606. The second cylindrical cavity 620 is coaxial with the first cylindrical cavity 614, but can have a greater physical length. The second cylindrical wall 612 provides the second cylindrical cavity 620 with a distal end 622 spaced along the longitudinal axis 606 from a proximal end 624 of the second cylindrical cavity 620.
A center conductor structure 626 is supported within the conductor wall structure 608 of the coaxial resonator 600 by the dielectric 616. The center conductor structure 626 includes a first center conductor 628, a second center conductor 630, and a radial conductor 632.
The first center conductor 628 reaches within the first cylindrical cavity 614 along the longitudinal axis 606. In the example implementation shown in
The second center conductor 630 has a proximal end 642 at the distal end 638 of the first center conductor 628. The second center conductor 630 projects along the longitudinal axis 606 to a distal end 644 configured as an electrode tip located at or in close proximity to the distal end 622 of the second cylindrical cavity 620.
To reduce any mismatch in impedances between the first resonator 602 and the second resonator 604, the relative radial thicknesses between both the cylindrical walls 610, 612 and the respective center conductors 628, 630 are defined in relation to the relative dielectric constant of the dielectric 616 and the dielectric constant of the air or gas that fills the second cylindrical cavity 620. In the example implementation of
In example implementations, any gaps between any of the center conductors 628, 630 and any outer conductor could be filled with a dielectric and/or the gap (for example, the second cylindrical cavity 620) could be large enough to reduce arcing (in other words, large enough such that the electric field is not of sufficient intensity to result in a dielectric breakdown of air or the intervening dielectric). As further shown in
In the illustrated example, a DC power source 646 is connected to the center conductor structure 626 through the radial conductor 632 connected adjacent to a virtual short-circuit point of the DC power source 646.
An RF control component, specifically, an RF frequency cancellation resonator assembly 648 is disposed between the radial conductor 632 and the DC power source 646 to restrict RF power from reaching the DC power source 646. The RF frequency cancellation resonator assembly 648 is an additional resonator assembly having a center conductor 650. The center conductor 650 has a first portion 652 and a second portion 654, each of which has the same electrical length “X” illustrated in
In an example implementation, the electrical length “X” depicted in
The RF frequency cancellation resonator assembly 648 also has a short outer conducting wall 656 and a long outer conducting wall 658. The short outer conducting wall 656 has first and second ends on opposite ends of the RF frequency cancellation resonator assembly 648. The long outer conducting wall 658 also has first and second ends on opposite ends of the RF frequency cancellation resonator assembly 648. The first and second ends of the short outer conducting wall 656 are each on the opposite side of the RF frequency cancellation resonator assembly 648 from the corresponding first and second ends of the long outer conducting wall 658.
In an example implementation, the difference in electrical length between the short outer conducting wall 656 and the long outer conducting wall 658 is substantially equal to the combined electrical length of the first portion 652 and the second portion 654. In this example, the combined electrical length of the first portion 652 and the second portion 654 is substantially equal to twice the electrical length of the first center conductor 628.
In an example implementation, the short outer conducting wall 656 and the long outer conducting wall 658 surround a cavity 660 filled with a dielectric. In operation, with this example implementation, electric current running along the outer conductor of the RF frequency cancellation resonator assembly 648 primarily follows the shortest path and run along the short outer conducting wall 656. Accordingly, electric current on the outer conductor of the RF frequency cancellation resonator assembly 648 travels two fewer quarter-wavelengths than current running along the center conductor 650 of the RF frequency cancellation resonator assembly 648.
In examples, the RF frequency cancellation resonator assembly 648 can also have an internal conducting ground plane 662 disposed within the cavity 660 and between the first portion 652 and the second portion 654 of the center conductor 650. Based on the geometry of the cancellation resonator assembly 648, this configuration provides a frequency cancellation circuit connected between the DC power source 646 and the radial conductor 632.
Further, in examples, the RF frequency cancellation resonator assembly 648 is configured to shift a voltage supply of RF energy 180 degrees out of phase relative to the ground plane 662 of the coaxial resonator 600 due to the difference in electrical length between the short outer conducting wall 656 and the center conductor 650 of the RF frequency cancellation resonator assembly 648.
As depicted in
An annular edge 718 of the first cylindrical wall portion 710 defines a proximal end 720 of the first cylindrical cavity 714. A proximal end of the second cylindrical wall portion 712 adjoins a distal end 722 of the first cylindrical cavity 714.
The coaxial resonator 700 further includes a first center conductor portion 724 and a second center conductor portion 726 (the center conductor portions 724, 726 represented by the densest cross-hatching in
The coaxial resonator 700 has an aperture 738 that reaches radially outward through the first cylindrical wall portion 710. A radial conductor 740 extends out through the aperture 738 from the longitudinal axis 706 to be connected to an RF power source (for example, the signal generator 202) by an RF power input line. The end of the radial conductor 740 that is closer to the longitudinal axis 706 connects to a parallel plate capacitor 742 that is in a coupling arrangement to a center conductor structure 744. The parallel plate capacitor 742 is also in a coupling arrangement to an inline folded RF attenuator 746. The spacing between the parallel plate capacitor 742 and the center conductor structure 744 can depend on the materials used for fabrication (for example, the materials used to fabricate the parallel plate capacitor 742, the center conductor structure 744, and/or the dielectric 716).
In an example, the DC power source 646 described above is connected to the center conductor structure 744 at a proximal end 748 of the center conductor structure 744 with a DC power input line. The inline folded RF attenuator 746 is disposed between the second resonator portion 704 and the DC power source 646 to restrict RF power from reaching the DC power source 646.
The inline folded RF attenuator 746 includes an interior center conductor portion 750 having a proximal end 752 and a distal end 754. The inline folded RF attenuator 746 also includes an exterior center conductor portion 756 and a transition center conductor portion 758 that connects or couples the interior center conductor portion 750 and the exterior center conductor portion 756.
The exterior center conductor portion 756 has a proximal end largely in the same plane as the proximal end 752, and a distal end largely in the same plane as the distal end 754. For example, in the cross-sectional illustration of
In this example, the exterior center conductor portion 756 resembles a cylindrical portion of conducting material surrounding the rest of the interior center conductor portion 750. The longitudinal lengths of the interior center conductor portion 750 and the exterior center conductor portion 756 are substantially equal to the longitudinal length of the parallel plate capacitor 742 with which they are in a coupling arrangement. The electrical length between the proximal end 752 to the distal end 754, for both the interior center conductor portion 750 and the exterior center conductor portion 756, is substantially equal to one quarter-wavelength. The second center conductor portion 726 and the second cylindrical wall portion 712 are both configured to have an electrical length of one quarter-wavelength.
The wall structure 708 includes a short outer conducting portion 760 which has a proximal end largely in the same plane as the proximal end 752, and a distal end largely in the same plane as the distal end 754. An outer conducting path runs from the distal end of the wall structure 708 (that is substantially coplanar with the distal end 734 of the second cylindrical cavity 736), along the short outer conducting portion 760, and stops at the proximal end 720 of the first cylindrical wall portion 710. In this example, the outer conducting path has an electrical length of two quarter-wavelengths.
An inner conducting path runs from the concentrator 732 to the proximal end 728 of the second center conductor portion 726, along the outside of the transition center conductor portion 758, then along the outside from the distal end to the proximal end of the exterior center conductor portion 756, then along an interior wall 762 of the exterior center conductor portion 756 from its proximal end to its distal end, then along the interior center conductor portion 750 from its distal end to its proximal end. In this example, the electrical length of this inner conducting path is four quarter-wavelengths, or two half wavelengths. The difference in electrical lengths between the inner conducting path and the outer conducting path is one half wavelength.
With this configuration, the inline folded RF attenuator 746 operates as a radio-frequency control component connected between the DC power source 646 and the voltage supply of RF energy. The inline folded RF attenuator 746 is configured to shift a voltage supply of RF energy 180 degrees out of phase relative to the ground plane of the coaxial resonator 700.
The particular arrangement depicted in
In another example, the arrangement depicted in
In one example, the arrangements described with respect to
The above coaxial resonators could be usefully employed in the context of a gas turbine such as a jet turbine configured to power an aircraft. For example, a coaxial cavity resonator similar to the coaxial resonator 201 illustrated in
An example gas turbine includes a compressor coupled to a turbine through a shaft, and the gas turbine also includes a combustion chamber or area, called a combustor. In operation, atmospheric air flows through a compressor that brings the air to higher pressure. Energy is then added by spraying fuel into the air and igniting it so the combustion generates a high-temperature, high-pressure gas flow. The high-temperature, high-pressure gas enters a turbine, where it expands down to an exhaust pressure, producing a shaft work output at the shaft coupled to the turbine in the process.
The shaft work output is used to drive the compressor and other devices (for example, an electric generator) that can be coupled to the shaft. The energy that is not used for shaft work comes out in the exhaust gases that can include a high temperature and/or a high velocity. Gas turbines can be utilized to power aircraft, trains, ships, electrical generators, pumps, gas compressors, and tanks, among other machines.
Fuel is mixed with the compressed air exiting the compressor 902, and the fuel-compressed air mixture is burned in a combustor 904, generating a flow of hot, high pressure gas. The hot, high pressure gas exiting the combustor 904 then passes through a turbine 906, which extracts energy from the flow of gas by making turbine blades spin in the flow. The energy extracted by the turbine 906 is then used to turn the compressor 902 by coupling the compressor 902 and the turbine 906 by a central shaft 908.
The turbine 906 transforms or converts some energy of the hot gas to drive the compressor 902, but there is enough energy left over to provide thrust to the jet engine 802 by increasing velocity of the flow of gas through a nozzle 910 disposed adjacent the turbine 906. Because the exit velocity is greater than the free stream velocity, thrust is created and the aircraft 800 is propelled.
Several variations could be made to the jet engine 802. For instance, the jet engine 802 could be configured as a turbofan engine or a turboprop engine where additional components are added to the several components illustrated in
The combustor 904, which can also be referred to as a burner, combustion chamber, or flame holder, comprises the area of the jet engine 802 where combustion takes place. The combustor 904 is configured to contain and maintain stable combustion despite high air flow rates. As such, in examples, the combustor 904 is configured to mix the air and fuel, ignite the air-fuel mixture, and then mix in more air to complete the combustion process.
The annular combustor 1000 shown in
The can combustor 1002 shown in
In example implementations, multiple combustion cans are arranged around the jet engine 802, and their shared exhaust is fed to the turbine 906. However, the can combustor 1002 can weigh more than other combustor configurations and can be characterized by higher pressure drop across the combustion cans than other combustor configurations.
The can-annular combustor 1004 shown in
Regardless of the type of combustor, the combustion process inside the combustor 904 can determine, at least partially, many of the operating characteristics of the jet engine 802, such as fuel efficiency, levels of emissions, and transient response (the response to changing conditions such a fuel flow and air speed). Further, also regardless of the type of combustor, the combustor 904 has several components that can be used, and these several components are described below.
The combustor 904 also includes a diffuser 1102 that is configured to slow the high speed, highly compressed air from the compressor 902 to a velocity optimal for the combustor 904. Reducing the velocity results in a loss in total pressure, and the diffuser 1102 is configured to limit such loss of pressure. The diffuser 1102 is also configured to limit flow distortion by avoiding flow effects like boundary layer separation.
The combustor 904 further includes a liner 1104 that contains the combustion process and is configured to withstand extended high temperature cycles, and therefore can be made from superalloys. Furthermore, the liner 1104 is cooled with air flow. In some example implementations, in addition to air cooling, the combustor 904 can include thermal barrier coatings to further cool the liner 1104.
Intermediate air is the air injected into the combustion zone 1202 through intermediate air holes 1204. The air injected through the intermediate air holes 1204 completes the combustion processes, cooling the air down and diluting concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H2).
Dilution air is air injected through dilution air holes 1206 in the liner 1104 at the end of the combustion zone 1202 to help cool the air to before it reaches the turbine 906. The dilution air can be used to produce the uniform temperature profile desired in the combustor 904.
Cooling air is air that is injected through cooling air holes 1208 in the liner 1104 to generate a layer (film) of cool air to protect the liner 1104 from the high combustion temperatures. The combustor 904 is configured such that the cooling air does not directly interact with the combustion air and combustion process.
Referring back to
The dome 1108 and a swirler 1110 are the components of the combustor 904 through which the primary air flows as it enters the combustion zone 1202. The dome 1108 and the swirler 1110 are configured to generate turbulence in the flow to rapidly mix the air with fuel. The swirler 1110 establishes a local low pressure zone that forces some of the combustion products to recirculate, creating high turbulence. However, the higher the turbulence, the higher the pressure loss is for the combustor 904, so the dome 1108 and the swirler 1110 are configured to not generate more turbulence than is sufficient to mix the fuel and air. In some examples, with the resonators disclosed in the present disclosure, the combustor 904 can be configured without the dome 1108 and the swirler 1110. In other examples, the dome 1108 and the swirler 1110 can be made smaller when the combustor resonators disclosed in the present disclosure are used because the flame front propagation can be faster than when a conventional igniter is used.
The combustor 904 further includes a fuel injector 1112 configured to introduce fuel to the combustion zone 1202 and, along with the swirler 1110, is configured to mix the fuel and air. The fuel injector 1112 can be configured as any of several types of fuel injectors including: pressure-atomizing, air blast, vaporizing, and premix/prevaporizing injectors.
Pressure atomizing fuel injectors rely on high fuel pressures (as much as 1200 pounds per square inch (psi)) to atomize the fuel. When using this type of fuel injector, the fuel system is configured to be sufficiently robust to withstand such high pressures. The fuel tends to be heterogeneously atomized, resulting in incomplete or uneven combustion, which generates pollutants and smoke.
The air-blast injector “blasts” fuel with a stream of air, atomizing the fuel into homogeneous droplets, and can cause the combustor 904 to be smokeless. This air blast injector can operate at lower fuel pressures than the pressure atomizing fuel injector.
The vaporizing fuel injector is similar to the air-blast injector in that the primary air is mixed with the fuel as it is injected into the combustion zone 1202. However, with the vaporizing fuel injector the fuel-air mixture travels through a tube within the combustion zone 1202. Heat from the combustion zone 1202 is transferred to the fuel-air mixture, vaporizing some of the fuel to enhance the mixing before the mixture is combusted. This way, the fuel is combusted with low thermal radiation, which helps protect the liner 1104. However, the vaporizer tube can have low durability because of the low fuel flow rate within it causing the tube to be less protected from the combustion heat.
The premixing/prevaporizing injector is configured to mix or vaporize the fuel before it reaches the combustion zone 1202. This way, the fuel is uniformly mixed with the air, and emissions from the jet engine 802 can be reduced. However, fuel can auto-ignite or otherwise combust before the fuel-air mixture reaches the combustion zone 1202, and the combustor 904 can thus be damaged.
In some example implementations, a resonator could be configured with fuel passages disposed within the resonator, such that the resonator integrates operations of the fuel injector 1112 with operations of an igniter described below. In these examples, the resonator could be configured to perform the atomization and vaporization of the fuel in addition to mixing and preparing the fuel for combustion. The fuel would then be passed through a formed plasma to ensure ignition. Further, the presence of electromagnetic waves radiated by the resonator could be used to energize the air-fuel mixture and stimulate combustion.
The combustor 904 also includes an igniter 1114 configured to ignite air-fuel mixture to cause combustion. In examples, the igniter 1114 can be configured as an electrical spark igniter, similar to an automotive spark plug. However, there are several disadvantages to such configuration as described below. The igniter 1114 is disposed proximate to the combustion zone 1202 where the fuel and air are already mixed, but is located upstream from the combustion location so that it is not damaged by the combustion itself. In example implementations, once combustion is initially started by the igniter 1114, the combustion is self-sustaining and the igniter 1114 is no longer used. In the annular combustor 1000 and the can-annular combustor 1004, the flame can propagate from one combustion zone to another, so igniters might not be used at each combustion zone.
However, in some examples, combustion can stop due to operating conditions that are not favorable to sustaining combustion. For example, the aircraft 800 can operate at high altitude with low air density, which might affect combustion. In another example, a speed of the aircraft 800 can be sufficiently low to stop the combustion process. Other operating conditions could cause the combustion to stop. In these examples, the igniter 1114 could also be used to restart combustion.
In some systems, ignition-assisting techniques can be used to restart combustion. One such method is oxygen injection, where oxygen is fed to the ignition area, helping the fuel to easily combust. This is particularly useful in some aircraft applications where the jet engine 802 may have to restart at high altitude. Further, described in the present disclosure are igniters and systems that could lower the probability of stopping and having to restart combustion. Particularly, the igniter 1114 could be configured as any of the resonators described in the present disclosure to enhance combustion. In some examples, if the igniter 1114 is configured as a coaxial resonator, the coaxial resonator could be used as a sensor to obtain real-time measurements of the conditions inside the combustor 904 and could be used to predict when combustion would stop (for example, when a flameout would occur). Once such a prediction is made, flameout can be precluded (or its likelihood reduced) by proactively performing operations such as adding more fuel, providing additional plasma, and/or increasing compression using the compressor 902, among other possible operations.
In some example implementations of the jet engine 802, combustion can take place in locations within the jet engine 802 other than the combustor 904. For example, in order for an aircraft to fly faster than the speed of sound, the aircraft needs to generate a high thrust to overcome a sharp rise in drag near the speed of sound. To achieve such high thrust, an afterburner can be added to the jet engine. The afterburner can be considered another type of combustor.
The nozzle 910 of the jet engine 802, as illustrated in
In some examples, when the afterburner 1300 is turned on, additional fuel is injected through, between, or around the flame holders 1302 and into the gas exiting the turbine 906. In other examples, fuel is injected in the afterburner 1300 upstream of the flame holders 1302. The fuel burns and produces additional thrust.
After passing the turbine 906, the gas from the turbine 906 expands, thus losing temperature. The gas from the turbine 906 is an input gas to the afterburner 1300. Fuel is injected into the input gas from the turbine 906 to produce a fuel-air mixture within an afterburner channel 1308. Combustion of the fuel within the fuel-air mixture within the afterburner channel 1308 results in an exhaust gas from the afterburner 1300 having a temperature and pressure greater than a temperature and pressure, respectively, of the gas from the turbine 906. The exhaust gas resulting from combustion within the afterburner channel 1308 passes through the nozzle 910 at a higher velocity, thereby generating additional thrust.
In some examples, ignition within the afterburner 1300 may be hard to achieve. In particular, because velocities and temperatures do not substantially change at the inlet of the afterburner 1300, ignition in the afterburner 1300 may be difficult to achieve when the aircraft 800 is flying at high altitudes. The difficulty is associated with the low pressure in the afterburner 1300 that affects ignition directly. Therefore, it can be desirable to have a system that better prepares the fuel for easier ignition in the afterburner 1300 at higher altitude.
Further, the exhaust gas from the turbine 906 that enters the afterburner 1300 has reduced oxygen and is not highly compressed due to previous combustion at the combustor 904. Therefore, combustion in the afterburner 1300 is generally fuel-inefficient compared with combustion in the combustor 904. Thus, the afterburner 1300 increases thrust at the cost of increased fuel inefficiency, thereby limiting its practical use to short bursts or intermittent operation. As such, the afterburner 1300 is turned on selectively when the extra thrust is used, but is otherwise turned off. It can thus be desirable to have an afterburner that is more efficient to enable using the afterburner more often and more efficiently to enable persistent, as opposed to intermittent operation.
The combustion taking place at the combustor 904 and the combustion taking place in the afterburner 1300 of the jet engine 802 can affect many of the operating characteristics of the jet engine 802. As examples, combustion determines fuel efficiency, thrust levels, and levels of emissions and transient response (the response to changing conditions such a fuel flow and air speed). It can thus be desirable to have an ignition system that prepares the fuel for efficient and thorough combustion, facilitates starting and restarting ignition when desired regardless of altitude, and enables combustion of a lean fuel mixture at high compression ratios to increase efficiency.
As discussed above, in a jet engine, it may be desirable to expose fuel (or a fuel mixture) to electromagnetic waves before ignition in order to reform the fuel and/or alter an energy state of the fuel. Doing so can help conserve energy during ignition and/or provide other advantages.
One manner of accomplishing this can be configuring a resonator to operate as a fuel injection source—particularly, by having fuel (or fuel mixtures) flow through the dielectric of the resonator, thereby exposing the fuel to electromagnetic waves as the fuel passes through the dielectric. Configuring a resonator in this manner can provide additional benefits as well, such as enabling use of the resonator both as an ignition source and as an alternative to a separate fuel injector device. Further, while fuel injection through the dielectric may be desired to achieve leaner fuel/air mixtures, the configurations and methods for fuel injection described in the present disclosure can be applied in scenarios in which a richer fuel/air mixture is desired. In any event, the resonator can also excite a plasma corona to ignite the fuel/air mixture.
To facilitate fuel injection through the resonator's dielectric, the resonator can include a fuel conduit through which to inject fuel into a combustion chamber of the jet engine. In some implementations, at least a portion of the fuel conduit can be proximate to the dielectric that is between the inner and outer conductors. Without limitation, the fuel conduit being proximate to the dielectric can include the fuel conduit being defined by the dielectric, the fuel conduit being arranged within the dielectric, and/or the fuel conduit being arranged along the dielectric. Further, at least a portion of the fuel conduit can include one or more channels through which the fuel can flow, and thus the dielectric can define the one or more channels, the one or more channels can be arranged within the dielectric, and/or the one or more channels can be arranged along the dielectric.
In line with the discussion above, each fuel conduit channel can have a particular shape, such as a linear shape, rifled shape, curved shape, etc. As an example in which one or more channels are defined by the dielectric, the dielectric can be a porous ceramic material (or a combination of multiple different pieces of a porous ceramic material assembled together) that defines a variety of linear or non-linear channels having similar or varying dimensions. As another example, the dielectric can include an air cavity between the inner and outer conductors, and the air cavity can serve as a channel through which fuel can flow. Thus, in essence, the shape of the air cavity can define the shape of the channel, and the air cavity itself can act as a portion of the fuel conduit. For instance, fuel can be injected into a portion of the fuel conduit and expelled into the air cavity, after which the fuel can flow through the air cavity towards a distal end of the resonator.
Furthermore, as an example in which one or more channels are arranged within the dielectric, the dielectric can be machined so as to define a channel within the dielectric. As a more particular example of this, multiple pieces of a dielectric material such as ceramic can each be machined such that, when the pieces are combined, channels are formed within the combination. As another example, at least a portion of the fuel conduit can include a thin tubing, and that tubing can be disposed within the dielectric. For instance, a fuel conduit in the form of a polyamide plastic tubing can be disposed within a ceramic material.
Moreover, as an example in which one or more channels are arranged along the dielectric, a channel can be included adjacent to the dielectric. For instance, a tubing can be coupled to the inner and/or outer conductor, with at least a portion of the tubing running parallel to the longitudinal axis of the resonator. A channel arranged along the dielectric can be directly adjacent to the dielectric and run alongside the dielectric.
In some implementations, a first portion of the fuel conduit can be arranged within, arranged along, and/or defined by, the inner conductor and/or the outer conductor, and a second portion of the fuel conduit can be arranged within, arranged along, and/or defined by, the dielectric. As so arranged, the first portion of the fuel conduit can be configured to provide fuel into the second portion. In other implementations, the dielectric between the inner and outer conductors can include multiple dielectrics, and each of the multiple dielectrics can include a portion of a fuel conduit. In operation with this arrangement, upon receipt of fuel into the resonator, the fuel can be moved through a first portion of a fuel conduit defined by a ceramic material, and then moved into a second portion of the fuel conduit defined by a different dielectric, such as air. Alternatively, upon receipt of fuel into the resonator, the fuel can be moved through a first portion of a fuel conduit defined by a porous ceramic material, and then moved into a second portion of the fuel conduit defined by another porous ceramic material having a different porosity (a higher porosity, for instance) than the first portion.
Furthermore, the fuel conduit can include one or more fuel inlets located at a proximal end of the fuel conduit and into which the fuel conduit receives fuel. The fuel conduit can also include one or more fuel outlets configured to expel the fuel. The location and orientation of a given fuel outlet can be selected based on the direction where the fuel is desired. As discussed above, for example, a fuel outlet can be oriented in such as a way as to expel fuel toward a concentrator of the resonator's electrode. That way, when the resonator is exciting a plasma corona proximate to the concentrator, the plasma corona can ignite the fuel that is being expelled from the fuel outlet towards the plasma corona. As another example, the fuel outlet can be oriented to expel fuel toward another portion of the fuel conduit. For instance, the fuel outlet can be an outlet of a fuel conduit disposed within a non-porous ceramic material and can be configured to expel fuel into a porous ceramic material that defines one or more additional channels of the fuel conduit through which the fuel can then flow.
In some implementations, one or more fuel outlets can be arranged in an annular pattern and can be configured to expel fuel in a radial pattern towards the inner conductor and/or towards the outer conductor. In these implementations, the one or more fuel outlets can include a single, annular outlet, or multiple outlets disposed in an annular pattern about a longitudinal axis of the resonator.
The first dielectric section 1408 includes a fuel conduit 1412 having an outlet 1414 located at a distal end of the fuel conduit and having an inlet 1415 located at a proximal end of the fuel conduit. The outlet 1414 is oriented towards both the inner conductor 1402 and the second dielectric section 1410. In an example arrangement, the first dielectric section 1408 can be a ceramic material within which the fuel conduit 1412 is disposed and through which the fuel can flow towards the outlet 1414. Further, the second dielectric section 1410 can be either (i) entirely air or (ii) a porous ceramic material through which fuel can flow towards the electrode 1406. As an alternate example, the first dielectric section 1408 can be a porous ceramic material and the second dielectric section 1410 can be air. Other arrangements are possible as well.
Further, as depicted in
In some implementations, the disclosed resonator can be configured to inject a single type of fuel, such as one of the fuels noted above. In addition to injecting a single type of fuel, the disclosed resonator arrangements can also be used to mix multiple different types of fuels before, during, or after the resonator provides electromagnetic waves and exposes the fuel to the electromagnetic waves. This can be accomplished in various ways. In one example, the resonator can include multiple conduits arranged within, arranged along, or defined by the dielectric, and configured to operate together to mix fuels. Each such conduit can include a respective inlet configured to receive a distinct type of fuel from a fuel source. Further, each such conduit may be physically separate from each other conduit. Still further, a first conduit can include an outlet arranged proximate to an outlet of a second conduit, and the two outlets can be oriented such that, due to their proximity and orientations, when the first conduit expels one type of fuel out of the first conduit's respective outlet and the second conduit expels a different type of fuel out of the second conduit's respective outlet, the fuels can mix together. For instance, each of the two outlets described above can be arranged to expel the respective fuels into porous dielectric material, in which the fuels can mix together. Additionally or alternatively, the two outlets can be arranged to expel the respective fuels into a cavity of air in the resonator, in which the fuels can mix together. In some implementations, the resonator can excite a plasma corona to ignite, in a combustion chamber of the jet engine, a mixture that includes multiple fuels and air.
In addition, also depicted in
Next,
Sectional view A-A shows a portion of the resonator 1600 near the distal end of the resonator 1600. In this portion, air 1608 is disposed between the inner conductor 1602 and the outer conductor 1604.
Next, sectional view B-B shows a portion of the resonator 1600 slightly below a midway point between the distal end and the proximal end of the resonator 1600. In this portion, the porous dielectric material 1610 is disposed between the inner conductor 1602 and the outer conductor 1604, and defines channels of a fuel conduit, such as channels 1612 and 1614. Further, sectional view C-C shows a portion of the resonator 1600 near a proximal end of the resonator 1600. In this portion, the porous dielectric material 1610 is less porous than the portion of the resonator 1600 shown in sectional view B-B, and defines additional channels of the fuel conduit, such as channels 1616 and 1618.
In practice, due to the porous nature of a porous dielectric material, the shape of the channels defined by the material can vary along various points in the material. For example, at some point along the length of the resonator 1600 between sectional views B-B and C-C, thinner channels 1616 and 1618 can merge together to become wider channel 1614. Alternatively, both channels 1616 and 1618 can remain physically separate from one another, but each feed into channel 1614. Either way, in operation, fuel that flows through channels 1616 and 1618 can then flow through channel 1614, and at some point thereafter can flow into the air 1608 portion of the resonator 1600.
As another example, channel 1616 and channel 1612 can be two different portions of the same channel. Likewise, channel 1618 and channel 1614 can be two different portions of the same channel through which fuel can flow. For instance, at some point along the length of the resonator 1600 between sectional views B-B and C-C, channel 1618 can widen in a funnel-like manner and to form channel 1614. Other examples are possible as well.
In addition, also depicted in
As shown, fuel conduit 1716 includes a fuel inlet 1720 and three outlets: outlet 1722a, outlet 1722b, and outlet 1722c, where outlet 1722a is located at axis 1708, and both outlet 1722b and outlet 1722c are located above axis 1708. Likewise, fuel conduit 1718 includes a fuel inlet 1724 and three outlets: outlet 1726a, outlet 1726b, and outlet 1726c, where outlet 1726a is located at axis 1708, and both outlet 1726b and 1726c are located above axis 1708. Fuel inlets 1720 and 1724 are each configured to receive fuel into conduits 1716 and 1718, respectively, from a fuel source.
Slightly below axis 1708, respective channels of fuel conduits 1716 and 1718 branch off to run within the dielectric material 1706 above axis 1708. Outlets 1722b, 1722c, 1726b, and 1726c, are then each oriented at a slight angle towards longitudinal axis 1712 and the distal end of the inner conductor 1702, and are each configured to expel fuel into the cavity 1710 in a direction towards the inner conductor 1702 and in a direction towards the distal end of the resonator 1700. Further, outlets 1722a and 1726a are oriented so that each of their longitudinal axes are substantially parallel to longitudinal axis 1712. Thus, outlets 1722a and 1726a are each configured to expel fuel into the cavity 1710 in a direction that is largely parallel to the longitudinal axis 1712 and in a direction toward the distal end of the resonator 1700.
In some implementations, multiple conduits similar to conduits 1716 and 1718 can be arranged within the dielectric material 1706 at other locations about longitudinal axis 1712. Each of such conduits can include more outlets, less outlets, or the same number of outlets, each of which can be at the same or different locations along the conduit as those shown in
Example structures for plasma-assisted combustion using multiple resonators will now be described particularly (by way of example) in the context of a cylindrical combustor, by reference to
Referring to
In line with the discussion above, a resonator can generate a plasma corona for igniting fuel in a combustion zone of jet engine. Sectional view A-A of
In the illustrated examples, at least a portion of the representative resonator can be coupled to and/or located within and/or proximate to the combustion zone 1804 and used to trigger excitation of a plasma corona within the combustion zone 1804. For instance, as depicted in
In line with the discussion above, the resonator 1808a can include a fuel conduit configured to couple to a fuel source and having a fuel outlet for expelling fuel into the combustion zone 1804. A portion of a fuel conduit can be arranged proximate to a dielectric of the resonator 1808a. As discussed above, the fuel conduit being proximate to the dielectric can include the fuel conduit being defined by the dielectric, the fuel conduit being arranged within the dielectric, and/or the fuel conduit being arranged along the dielectric. Still further, the fuel outlet of the fuel conduit can be disposed within the dielectric. In some implementations, the fuel outlet can be arranged so as to expel fuel toward the distal end of the resonator 1808a.
Further in line with the discussion above, the fuel conduit can include multiple fuel outlets for expelling fuel in the combustion zone 1804. The multiple fuel outlets can be configured to expel the fuel in a radial pattern.
As also discussed above, the dielectric can include an area of porous material into which the fuel outlet of the fuel conduit expels the fuel such that fuel passes through the area of porous material and enters the combustion zone 1804.
Moreover, the orientation of a resonator with respect to a longitudinal axis of the combustor can vary, depending on the desired implementation. In an example, a longitudinal axis of the center conductor of resonator 1808a can be oriented at an oblique angle with respect to the longitudinal center axis 1802 of the combustor 1800, with a distal end of the center conductor being disposed toward a distal end of the combustor 1800. Orienting resonator 1808a in this manner can help to prevent fuel that is input into the combustor by a fuel inlet from blowing out the plasma corona. Alternatively, resonator 1808a can be oriented such that a longitudinal axis of the center conductor is perpendicular to the longitudinal center axis 1802 of the combustor 1800. Other examples are possible as well.
In any case, as described above, the resonator 1808a can provide a plasma corona in the combustion zone 1804 in order to ignite the fuel/air mixture and cause the fuel in the combustion zone to combust.
As further shown in sectional view B-B, one or more additional resonators similar to resonator 1808a can be included at various points along the length of the combustor 1800. For instance, sectional view B-B shows an additional resonator 1808b that is rotationally offset from resonator 1808a by approximately 180-degrees around the circumference of the combustor 1800. Resonator 1808b can supplement the combustion caused by resonator 1808a by providing an additional plasma corona to ignite any non-combusted fuel at or near resonator 1808b. Additionally or alternatively, resonator 1808b can supplement the combustion caused by resonator 1808a by providing electromagnetic waves that pre-treat fuel within a portion of a fuel conduit passing through a dielectric of the resonator 1808b. Similarly, resonator 1808b could be controlled so as to provide a plasma corona and resonator 1808a could be controlled so as to provide electromagnetic waves, thereby pre-treating fuel within a portion of a fuel conduit passing through a first conductor of resonator 1808a.
Further, in some implementations, an array of resonators can be arranged annularly around the longitudinal center axis 1802 of the combustor 1800. For instance, as depicted in
In these examples having multiple resonators, any of the resonators can be selectively excited according to a desired sequence so as to provide plasma coronas at the desired sequence. For instance, each resonator can be electromagnetically coupled to a corresponding radio-frequency power source, and a controller can cause the respective radio-frequency power sources to excite the resonators in the desired sequence. In other examples, multiple resonators can be electromagnetically coupled to a single radio-frequency power source, and the controller can cause the single radio-frequency power source to selectively excite the resonators at the desired point in the sequence.
The desired sequence can take various forms. For instance, referring to sectional view A-A in
Further, in some implementations, resonators at different points along the length of the combustor 1800 can be excited at different times in accordance with the desired sequence. For instance, one or more resonators at cross section B-B can be excited after one or more resonators at cross section A-A. This can allow combustion to propagate from a resonator(s) at cross-section A-A along the length of the combustor 1800 toward cross-section B-B before exciting the resonator(s) at cross-section B-B.
By way of example, excitation of the resonator(s) at cross-section B-B can be delayed by a delay time with respect to excitation of the resonator(s) at cross-section A-A. For instance, the resonator(s) at cross-section A-A can be excited at a first time, and then after a delay time, the resonator(s) at cross-section B-B can be excited. Delaying the excitation of the resonator(s) at cross-section B-B can cause combustion propagating from the resonator(s) at cross section B-B to reach the distal end of the combustor at approximately the same time as combustion propagating from the resonator(s) at cross section A-A reaches the distal end of the combustor. The amount of delay time between exciting the resonators at cross section A-A and exciting the resonators at cross section B-B can depend on a velocity of the combustion propagation, which could depend on the type of fuel being combusted. For instance, for a given fuel, if it takes X milliseconds for combustion to propagate from cross section A-A to the distal end of the combustor and Y milliseconds for combustion to propagate from cross section B-B to the distal end of the combustor, then the resonator(s) at cross section B-B can be excited Z milliseconds after the resonator(s) at cross section A-A, where Z=X−Y
In an example implementation, a strut supported by and/or attached to the mounting bracket 1908 can be connected to a portion of a fuel supply line. In another example implementation, a strut supported by and/or attached to the mounting bracket 1908 can include a passage for electrical circuitry that is connected to a signal generator and/or direct-current power source. In yet another example implementation, a strut supported by and/or attached to the mounting bracket 1908 can include both a passage for the electrical circuitry and a portion of a fuel supply line.
As further shown in
The resonators 1920, 1922, 1924, 1926 could be configured in accordance with any of the resonators discussed above. Electrical circuitry connected to a signal generator and/or a direct-current power source can connect to the resonators 1920, 1922, 1924, 1926. The resonators 1920, 1922, 1924, 1926 can be configured to provide electromagnetic waves and/or a plasma corona in response to being excited by a radio-frequency signal. As discussed above, in some implementations, one of the resonators 1920, 1922, 1924, 1926 can be configured to provide a plasma corona in response to being excited by a radio-frequency signal and having a direct-current power source provide a bias signal between a first conductor and a second conductor of the resonator.
The arrangement shown in
In another implementation, the mounting ring 1910 could be a helix that wraps helically around the longitudinal center axis 1930. With this approach, the struts 1912, 1914, 1916, 1918 could be located at different longitudinal positions along a length of the combustor 1900.
Like the resonators 1808a-f of
The fuel conduit(s) of the one or more of the resonator(s) 1920, 1922, 1924, 1926 can be fluidly coupled to a fuel passage within one of the struts 1912, 1914, 1916, 1918. By way of example,
As further shown in
At block 2100, the method includes providing at least one plasma corona in a combustion chamber of a jet engine by exciting at least one resonator of a plurality of resonators with a respective signal having a wavelength proximate to an odd-integer multiple of one-quarter of a resonant wavelength of the resonator, each resonator of the plurality of resonators including (i) a respective first conductor, (ii) a respective second conductor, and (iii) a respective dielectric between the respective first conductor and the respective second conductor. In line with the discussion above, each resonator of the plurality of resonators can include a coaxial cavity resonator, a dielectric resonator, a rectangular waveguide cavity resonator, or a gap-coupled microstrip resonator, or could take still other forms.
In some implementations, providing the at least one plasma corona can include exciting resonators of the plurality of resonators according to a desired sequence so as to provide respective plasma coronas in the desired sequence.
In some implementations, exciting at least one resonator of the plurality of resonators can include exciting all of the resonators of the plurality of resonators.
At block 2102, the method includes moving fuel from a fuel source into the combustion chamber of the jet engine by way of a fuel conduit such that the at least one plasma corona causes combustion of the fuel. A portion of the fuel conduit is arranged proximate to the respective dielectric of a given resonator of the plurality of resonators. As discussed above, the portion of the fuel conduit can be arranged along the respective dielectric of the given resonator, arranged within the respective dielectric of the given resonator, and/or defined by a shape of the respective dielectric of the given resonator.
In some implementations, the given resonator can be one of the at least one resonators that provides the at least one plasma corona. Accordingly, providing the at least one plasma corona can include exciting the given resonator with the respective signal having the wavelength proximate to an odd-integer multiple of one-quarter of a resonant wavelength of the given resonator. Providing the at least one plasma corona can also include providing, using a direct-current power source, a respective bias signal between the respective first conductor and the respective second conductor of the given resonator.
In some implementations, moving the fuel can include moving the fuel using a fuel pump of the jet engine. In addition, moving the fuel can include expelling the fuel through a fuel outlet and toward a distal end of the respective first conductor of the given resonator where the resonator provides the plasma corona.
In some implementations, one or more of the plurality of resonators can assume a dual role. For instance, providing the at least one plasma corona can include providing causing a given resonator of the plurality of resonators to provide a plasma corona. Further, in that example, the method can also include exciting the given resonator prior to formation of the plasma corona, such that the given resonator provides electromagnetic waves for pre-treating fuel that is input through the given resonator and/or fuel that is within the combustion zone.
Similarly, in some implementations, a first set of resonators of the plurality of resonators can provide plasma coronas and a second set of resonators of the plurality of resonators need not provide respective plasma coronas. The first set of resonators could include one or more resonators of the plurality of resonators, and the second set of resonators could include one or more other resonators of the plurality of resonators. With this arrangement, after combustion occurs, rather than providing plasma coronas, the second set of resonators could instead enhance an already present combustion process by providing electromagnetic waves that can reform fuel that is being input to the combustion zone and/or already in the combustion zone. In one example, the resonators of the second set of resonators could be controlled so as to initially provide plasma coronas and then, after combustion occurs, to no longer provide plasma coronas. Alternatively, resonators of the second set of resonators might never provide plasma coronas, but only provide electromagnetic waves for pre-treating or reforming fuel.
In some implementations, moving the fuel can include expelling the fuel into an area of porous material in the respective dielectric of the given resonator such that the fuel passes through the area of the porous material and enters a combustion zone of the combustion chamber.
The order of the blocks shown in
At block 2200, the method includes providing electromagnetic waves by exciting each resonator of a plurality of resonators, each resonator of the plurality of resonators including (i) a respective first conductor, (ii) a respective second conductor, and (iii) a respective dielectric between the respective first conductor and the respective second conductor. In line with the discussion above, each resonator of the plurality of resonators can include a coaxial cavity resonator, a dielectric resonator, a rectangular waveguide cavity resonator, or a gap-coupled microstrip resonator, or could take still other forms. In some implementations, providing electromagnetic waves by exciting each resonator can include providing electromagnetic waves by exciting each resonator of the plurality of resonators with a respective signal having a wavelength proximate to an odd-integer multiple of one-quarter of a resonant wavelength of the resonator.
At block 2202, the method includes moving fuel from a fuel source into a combustion chamber of a jet engine by way of a plurality of fuel conduits. Each fuel conduit of the plurality of fuel conduits can correspond to a respective resonator of the plurality of resonators, with a portion of the fuel conduit being arranged proximate to the respective dielectric of the resonator such that the fuel moving through the fuel conduit is exposed to the electromagnetic waves, thereby pre-treating fuel within the fuel conduit so as to provide pre-treated fuel. As discussed above, the portion of the fuel conduit can be arranged along the respective dielectric, arranged within the respective dielectric, and/or defined by a shape of the respective dielectric.
In some implementations, pre-treating the fuel can include increasing an energy state of the fuel, thereby lowering an energy barrier to combustion of the fuel. In line with the discussion above, increasing the energy state of the fuel can include increasing a valence band occupancy rate.
In some implementations, pre-treating the fuel can include (i) liberating hydrogen atoms from the fuel, thereby making the pre-treated fuel more amenable to combustion and/or (ii) liberating hydrogen ions from the fuel, thereby making the pre-treated fuel more amenable to combustion.
In some implementations, the method can also include igniting the pre-treated fuel with the combustion chamber. In line with the discussion above, igniting the pre-treated fuel within the combustion chamber can include providing a plasma corona in the combustion chamber by: (i) causing a direct-current power source to provide a bias signal between the respective first conductor and the respective second conductor of a given resonator of the plurality of resonators, and (ii) causing a radio-frequency power source to excite the given resonator with a signal having a wavelength proximate to an odd-integer multiple of one-quarter of a resonant wavelength of the resonator.
The particular arrangements shown in the Figures should not be viewed as limiting. It should be understood that other implementations can include more or less of each element shown in a given Figure. Further, some of the illustrated elements can be combined or omitted. Yet further, an illustrative implementation can include elements that are not illustrated in the Figures.
A step or block that represents a processing of information can correspond to circuitry that can be configured to perform the specific logical functions of a method or technique as presently disclosed. Alternatively or additionally, a step or block that represents a processing of information can correspond to a module, a segment, or a portion of program code (including related data). The program code can include one or more instructions executable by a processor for implementing specific logical functions or actions in the method or technique. The program code and/or related data can be stored on any type of computer-readable medium such as a storage device including a disk, hard drive, or other storage medium.
The computer-readable medium can also include non-transitory computer-readable media such as computer-readable media that store data for short periods of time like register memory, processor cache, and random access memory (RAM). The computer-readable media can also include non-transitory computer-readable media that store program code and/or data for longer periods of time. Thus, the computer-readable media can include secondary or persistent long term storage, like read only memory (ROM), optical or magnetic disks, compact-disc read only memory (CD-ROM), for example. The computer-readable media can also be any other volatile or non-volatile storage systems. A computer-readable medium can be considered a computer-readable storage medium, for example, or a tangible storage device.
While various examples and implementations have been disclosed, other examples and implementations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various disclosed examples and implementations are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope being indicated by the following claims.
The present application hereby incorporates by reference U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,361,737; 7,721,697; 8,783,220; 8,887,683; 9,551,315; 9,624,898; and 9,638,157. The present application also hereby incorporates by reference U.S. Patent Application Pub. Nos. 2009/0194051; 2011/0146607; 2011/0175691; 2014/0283780; 2014/0283781; 2014/0327357; 2015/0287574; 2017/0082083; 2017/0085060; 2017/0175697; and 2017/0175698. In addition, the present application hereby incorporates by reference International Patent Application Pub. Nos. WO 2011/112786; WO 2011/127298; WO 2015/157294; and WO 2015/176073. Further, the present application hereby incorporates by reference the following U.S. Patent Applications, each filed on the same date as the present application: “Plasma-Distributing Structure in a Resonator System” (identified by attorney docket number 17-1501); “Magnetic Direction of a Plasma Corona Provided Proximate to a Resonator” (identified by attorney docket number 17-1502); “Fuel Injection Using a Dielectric of a Resonator” (identified by attorney docket number 17-1505); “Jet Engine Including Resonator-based Diagnostics” (identified by attorney docket number 17-1506); “Power-generation Turbine Including Resonator-based Diagnostics” (identified by attorney docket number 17-1507); “Electromagnetic Wave Modification of Fuel in a Jet Engine” (identified by attorney docket number 17-1508); “Electromagnetic Wave Modification of Fuel in a Power-generation Turbine” (identified by attorney docket number 17-1509); “Jet Engine with Plasma-assisted Combustion” (identified by attorney docket number 17-1510); “Jet Engine with Fuel Injection Using a Conductor of a Resonator” (identified by attorney docket number 17-1511); “Jet Engine with Fuel Injection Using a Dielectric of a Resonator” (identified by attorney docket number 17-1512); “Jet Engine with Fuel Injection Using a Conductor of At Least One of Multiple Resonators” (identified by attorney docket number 17-1513); “Plasma-Distributing Structure in a Jet Engine” (identified by attorney docket number 17-1515); “Power-generation Gas Turbine with Plasma-assisted Combustion” (identified by attorney docket number 17-1516); “Power-generation Gas Turbine with Fuel Injection Using a Conductor of a Resonator” (identified by attorney docket number 17-1517); “Power-generation Gas Turbine with Fuel Injection Using a Dielectric of a Resonator” (identified by attorney docket number 17-1518); “Power-generation Gas Turbine with Plasma-assisted Combustion Using Multiple Resonators” (identified by attorney docket number 17-1519); “Power-generation Gas Turbine with Fuel Injection Using a Conductor of At Least One of Multiple Resonators” (identified by attorney docket number 17-1520); “Power-generation Gas Turbine with Fuel Injection Using a Dielectric of At Least One of Multiple Resonators” (identified by attorney docket number 17-1521); “Plasma-Distributing Structure in a Power Generation Turbine” (identified by attorney docket number 17-1522); “Jet Engine with Plasma-assisted Combustion and Directed Flame Path” (identified by attorney docket number 17-1523); “Jet Engine with Plasma-assisted Combustion Using Multiple Resonators and a Directed Flame Path” (identified by attorney docket number 17-1524); “Plasma-Distributing Structure and Directed Flame Path in a Jet Engine” (identified by attorney docket number 17-1525); “Power-generation Gas Turbine with Plasma-assisted Combustion and Directed Flame Path” (identified by attorney docket number 17-1526); “Power-generation Gas Turbine with Plasma-assisted Combustion Using Multiple Resonators and a Directed Flame Path” (identified by attorney docket number 17-1527); “Plasma-Distributing Structure and Directed Flame Path in a Power Generation Turbine” (identified by attorney docket number 17-1528); “Jet engine with plasma-assisted afterburner” (identified by attorney docket number 17-1529); “Jet engine with plasma-assisted afterburner having Resonator with Fuel Conduit” (identified by attorney docket number 17-1530); “Jet engine with plasma-assisted afterburner having Resonator with Fuel Conduit in Dielectric” (identified by attorney docket number 17-1531); “Jet engine with plasma-assisted afterburner having Ring of Resonators” (identified by attorney docket number 17-1532); “Jet engine with plasma-assisted afterburner having Ring of Resonators and Resonator with Fuel Conduit” (identified by attorney docket number 17-1533); “Jet engine with plasma-assisted afterburner having Ring of Resonators and Resonator with Fuel Conduit in Dielectric” (identified by attorney docket number 17-1534); and “Plasma-Distributing Structure in an Afterburner of a Jet Engine” (identified by attorney docket number 17-1535).