Microwave combustion system for internal combustion engines
AssigneeBTU International, Inc.
InventorsDevendra Kumar, Dominique Tasch, Ramesh Peelamedu, Satyendra Kumar, David Brosky, Michael Gregersen
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Abstract
A microwave combustion system is presented that can replace the conventional spark plug in an internal combustion engine. One or more microwave pulses are provided to a microwave feed in a plug that sits in the cylinder. A microwave generated plasma generated by the plug in the vicinity of a fuel mixture can provide for highly efficient combustion of the fuel-air mixture.
Claims33
A microwave combustion system, comprising:
- a microwave source;
- a first pulse generator configured to receive a trigger pulse synchronized with an internal combustion engine and configured to output a control pulse as a function of the trigger pulse;
- a second pulse generator coupled to the first pulse generator to receive the control pulse and coupled between a power supply and the microwave source, the second pulse generator providing a voltage pulse of sufficient voltage to the microwave source in response to the control pulse;
- and
- a plug coupled to receive microwave energy from the microwave source when the voltage pulse is supplied to the microwave source.
28-43. (canceled)
A microwave combustion system, comprising:
- a microwave source;
- a first pulse generator coupled to a spark plug wire and configured to output a control pulse;
- a second pulse generator coupled to the first pulse generator to receive the control pulse and coupled between a power supply and the microwave source, the second pulse generator providing a voltage pulse of sufficient voltage to the microwave source in response to the control pulse;
- and
- a plug coupled to receive microwave energy from the microwave source when the voltage pulse is supplied to the microwave source,
- wherein the first pulse generator provides the control pulse on a downward edge of a high voltage transient spark signal provided on the spark plug wire.
A microwave combustion system, comprising:
- a microwave source;
- a pulse generator coupled between a power supply and the microwave source, the pulse generator providing a voltage pulse of sufficient voltage to the microwave source in response to a control pulse;
- a plug coupled to receive microwave energy from the microwave source when the voltage pulse is supplied to the microwave source;
- and
- a dual directional coupler to monitor forward and reverse propagating microwave energy coupled between the microwave source and the plug.
A microwave combustion system, comprising:
- a microwave source;
- a pulse generator coupled between a power supply and the microwave source, the pulse generator providing a voltage pulse of sufficient voltage to the microwave source in response to a control pulse;
- and
- a plug, including a microwave feed and a ground line, coupled to receive microwave energy from the microwave source when the voltage pulse is supplied to the microwave source,
- wherein the ground line comprises an annular metal member having a series of holes distributed about a central opening.
A microwave combustion system, comprising:
- a microwave source;
- a pulse generator coupled between a power supply and the microwave source, the pulse generator providing a voltage pulse of sufficient voltage to the microwave source in response to a control pulse;
- and
- a plug, including a microwave feed and a ground line, coupled to receive microwave energy from the microwave source when the voltage pulse is supplied to the microwave source,
- wherein the ground line comprises one or more tips symmetrically distributed around the microwave feed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.