Electrically assisted pre-chamber ignition system

An engine comprising:

• a combustion chamber configured to form a containment boundary for a combustion reaction;
• a piston actuated by the combustion reaction;
• a fuel injector configured to inject fuel into the combustion chamber;
• a prechamber device comprising:
• a prechamber body comprising a plurality of orifices, the prechamber body being configured to at least partially contain the combustion reaction;
• a first electrode and a second electrode configured to generate an electric field within the prechamber device;
• an insulation configured to insulate the first electrode and the second electrode from the prechamber body;
• a first electrode terminal configured to receive a first amount of power from an energy storage device and deliver the first amount of power to the first electrode, and a second electrode terminal configured to receive a second amount of power from the energy storage device, and deliver the second amount of power to the second electrode;
• a spark plug configured to generate an ignition arc thereby initiating the combustion reaction, and
• a prechamber head configured to retain a position of the spark plug and close off a first end of the prechamber body, and
• an electronic control unit (ECU) configured to control a strength and timing of the electric field between the first electrode and the second electrode.

A method comprising:

• retaining a position of a spark plug with a prechamber head, where the prechamber head closes off a first end of a prechamber body comprising a plurality of orifices;
• insulating a first electrode and a second electrode from the prechamber body with an insulation;
• receiving a first amount of power from an energy storage device with a first electrode terminal, and delivering the first amount of power to the first electrode;
• receiving a second amount of power from the energy storage device with a second electrode terminal, and delivering the second amount of power to the second electrode;
• generating an electric field within a prechamber device comprising the prechamber head and the prechamber body by way of the first electrode and the second electrode;
• generating an ignition arc with the spark plug thereby initiating a combustion reaction;
• containing the combustion reaction at least partially in the prechamber body.