Plasma assisted spark ignition systems and methods

A method of operation in a plasma assisted spark ignition system, the plasma assisted spark ignition system comprising at least a first ignitor and at least a first power supply, the first ignitor comprising:

• a casing having a first end, a second end that forms a first electrode, and a longitudinally extending passage which includes an opening in the casing at the second end and an end wall having an interior surface at the second end, a second electrode that extends along at least a portion of the longitudinally extending passage and which protrudes longitudinally outward from the opening at the second end of the casing and which is laterally spaced inwardly from the opening to form a spark gap between the first and the second electrodes at the second end of the casing, and an electrical insulator located in the longitudinally extending passage of the casing, surrounding a portion of the second electrode, and which has a terminus that is at least closely spaced to the interior surface of the end wall at the second end of the casing, the method comprising:
• supplying, by the first power supply, a first voltage pulse of an ignition event to the first ignitor at a first amplitude to generate a surface flash over on the electrical insulator of the first ignitor;
• and
• subsequently supplying, by the first power supply, a plurality of voltage pulses of the ignition event to the first ignitor.

A plasma assisted spark ignition system, comprising:

• at least a first ignitor, the first ignitor comprising:
• a casing having a first end, a second end that forms a first electrode, and a longitudinally extending passage which includes an opening in the casing at the second end and an end wall having an interior surface at the second end, a second electrode that extends along at least a portion of the longitudinally extending passage and which protrudes longitudinally outward from the opening at the second end of the casing and which is laterally spaced inwardly from the opening to form a spark gap between the first and the second electrodes at the second end of the casing, and an electrical insulator located in the longitudinally extending passage of the casing, surrounding a portion of the second electrode, and which has a terminus that is parallel to and at least closely spaced to the interior surface of the end wall at the second end of the casing;
• and
• at least a first power supply coupled and operable to supply a plurality of voltage pulses per ignition event via at least one of the first or the second electrodes of the first ignitor, one, more or all of the plurality of voltage pulses per ignition event each having a respective duration of less than 10 nanoseconds.