Ignition exciter discharge switch

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9399954-B2
Application number	US-201414215317-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 17, 2014
Priority date	Mar 17, 2014
Publication date	Jul 26, 2016
Grant date	Jul 26, 2016

Abstract

An ignition exciter system for igniting fuel in a gas turbine engine. The ignition exciter system includes a rechargeable energy source, at least one pulse-forming network coupled to the rechargeable energy source and generating a stored energy waveform from energy in the rechargeable energy source, at least one igniter plug coupled to the at least one pulse-forming network to receive the stored energy waveform and generating a spark in response to the received stored energy waveform.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An ignition exciter system for igniting fuel in a gas turbine engine, the ignition exciter system comprising:
a rechargeable energy source;
at least one pulse-forming network coupled to the rechargeable energy source and generating a stored energy waveform from energy in the rechargeable energy source;
at least one igniter plug coupled to the at least one pulse-forming network to receive the stored energy waveform and generating a spark in response to the received stored energy waveform;
a silicon carbide discharge switch further comprising a gate, an anode and a cathode; and
a switch driver applying a positive electrical triggering waveform to the anode with respect to the gate of the silicon carbide discharge switch;
wherein the anode and cathode of the silicon carbide discharge switch is connected in series with the rechargeable energy source selectively coupling the rechargeable energy source to the at least one pulse forming network in response to the positive electrical triggering waveform to effect the generating of the stored energy waveform, which is then received by the igniter plug to generate the spark.

2. The ignition exciter system of claim 1 wherein the silicon carbide discharge switch is a silicon carbide thyristor.

3. The ignition exciter system of claim 2 wherein the anode is coupled to an electrical ground.

4. The ignition exciter system of claim 2 wherein the anode of the silicon carbide thyristor is coupled to a cathode of a diode and the cathode of the silicon carbide thyristor is coupled to an anode of the diode.

5. The ignition exciter system of claim 1 wherein the silicon carbide discharge switch selectively couples the rechargeable energy source to the at least one pulse-forming network by transitioning from a non-conducting state to a conducting state.

6. The ignition exciter system of claim 1 wherein the at least one pulse-forming network is configured to control a shape and a timing of a stored energy waveform.

7. The ignition exciter system of claim 1 wherein the at least one pulse-forming network comprises at least two pulse-forming networks electrically coupled in parallel.

8. The ignition exciter system of claim 1 wherein the stored energy in the rechargeable energy source is directed to the at least one igniter plug through the silicon carbide discharge switch.

9. The ignition exciter system of claim 1 wherein the rechargeable energy source comprises a capacitor.

10. The ignition exciter system of claim 1 wherein the rechargeable energy source comprises an array of in-parallel or in-series capacitors.

11. The ignition exciter system of claim 1 further comprising a clamper circuit electrically coupled in parallel between the in-series combination of the silicon carbide discharge switch and the rechargeable energy source.

12. The ignition exciter system of claim 1 wherein the silicon carbide discharge switch is at least two silicon carbide thyristors connected in series.

Assignees

• Unison Ind Llc

Inventors

• Wright Scott Brian

Classifications

• F05D2260/42

  Storage of energy · CPC title

• F05D2260/99

  Ignition, e.g. ignition by warming up of fuel or oxidizer in a resonant acoustic cavity · CPC title

• H01T15/00

  Circuits specially adapted for spark gaps, e.g. ignition circuits (ignition circuits for internal-combustion engines F02P; electric spark ignition for combustion apparatus F23Q; protection circuits using spark gaps H02H9/06) · CPC title

• F02P15/003

  Layout of ignition circuits for gas turbine plants (ignition of gas turbine plants per se F02C7/26) · CPC title

• F02C7/266 Primary

  Electric (sparking plugs H01T) · CPC title