Advanced optics and optical access for laser ignition for gas turbines including aircraft engines

US8616006B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• General Electric Company · US

Inventors

• Sara Rocci Denis · Garching bei München, DE
• Herbert Kopecek · Tirol, AT
• Richard W. Stickles · Loveland, US
• Chukwueloka Obiora Umeh · Schenectady, US
• Gabor Ast · Munich, DE
• Mark Patrick Kelsey · Cincinnati, US
• Steven C. Vise · Loveland, US
• Gary L. Leonard · Cincinnati, US
• Shai Birmaher · Cincinnati, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 30, 2010
• Grant date: Dec 31, 2013
• Expiry date: Nov 30, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F23R2900/00006
• WIPO field: Engines, pumps, turbines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A laser ignition system for an internal combustion engine, and more specifically a gas turbine engine, is provided. The system including a laser light source configured to generate a laser beam, an ignition port configured to provide optimized optical access of the laser beam to a combustion chamber and an optical beam guidance component disposed between the laser light source and the ignition port. The optical beam guidance component is configured to include optimized optic components to transmit the laser beam to irradiate on a fuel mixture supplied into the combustion chamber to generate a combustor flame in a flame region. A method for igniting a fuel mixture in an internal combustion engine is also presented.