Plasma ignition and combustion assist system for gas turbine engines

A method of using a plasma igniter with an electronic driver unit, the method comprising the steps of:

• determining at least one of a desired size and weight of a plasma igniter based on engine size, space availability or kinetic application;
• determining a desired igniter electrode operating life;
• determining a desired power efficiency of the plasma igniter system;
• maintaining a power source compatibility of the plasma igniter system with that of an engine;
• determining engine pressure ratios;
• wherein the step of determining engine pressure ratios further comprises the steps of:
• identifying engines having low pressure ratios between 3:1 and 7:1, small volumetric flow rates below 15 msec, and operating at temperatures below 400 Fahrenheit;
• and
• selecting electronic driver units with voltage outputs appropriate for at least one of the respective pressure ratios and volumetric flow rates, after the step of determining engine pressure ratios;
• and
• determining whether the plasma igniter and driver unit will be operational only at initial ignition and start of the engine or at multiple times after initial ignition and start of the engine;
• and
• operating the plasma igniter to sustain combustion or increase combustion efficiency when conditions where mixing and reaction times are short or where the fuel-air mixture in the combustor burn zone is outside conventional lean and rich flammability limits;
• after the step of determining whether the plasma ignition system will be operational at initial ignition and start of the engine only, or multiple times after initial ignition and start.