# US 5,352,955 A · High energy ignition generator for gas turbines

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- Number: US 5,352,955 A
- Document ID: US5352955A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 07/948,310
- Filed: 1992-09-22
- Granted: 1994-10-04
- Earliest claimed: 1991-09-27
- Assignees: Eyquem
- Inventors: Patrick Balland
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5352955A

## CPC

- F02C 7/266: Electric (sparking plugs H01T)
- F02P 3/005: {having inductive-capacitance energy storage (capacitive storage installations using an intermediate charging inductance F02P3/0876)}
- F02P 3/0838: {with semiconductor devices (F02P3/0861, F02P3/0884, F02P3/093 take precedence)}
- F02P 9/002: {Control of spark intensity, intensifying, lengthening, suppression (by means of current control in the storage devices F02P3/05, F02P3/09, during starting F02P15/12)}
- F02P 15/003: {Layout of ignition circuits for gas turbine plants (ignition of gas turbine plants per se F02C7/26)}
- F02C: GAS-TURBINE PLANTS; AIR INTAKES FOR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS; CONTROLLING FUEL SUPPLY IN AIR-BREATHING JET-PROPULSION PLANTS (construction of turbines F01D; jet-propulsion plants F02K; construction of compressors or fans F04; generating combustion products of high pressure or high velocity F23R; using gas turbines in compression refrigeration plants F25B11/00)
- F02P: IGNITION, OTHER THAN COMPRESSION IGNITION, FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES; TESTING OF IGNITION TIMING IN COMPRESSION-IGNITION ENGINES ({anti-pollution means for internal-combustion engines F02B17/00}; specially adapted for rotary-piston or oscillating-piston engines F02B53/12; {ignition of gas turbine plants F02C7/26; ignition of jet propulsion plants F02K9/95; starting of combustion engines F02N9/00}; ignition of combustion apparatus in general, glowing plugs F23Q; measuring of physical variables in general G01; controlling in general G05; data processing in general G06; electrical components in general see Section H; {ignition coils H01F38/12}; sparking plugs H01T13/00)

## Abstract

A high energy ignition generator includes an energy source connected to a circuit for charging an energy storage capacitor. The storage capacitor is connected to a discharge circuit consisting of a series inductive circuit for energy recovery and an ignitor having terminals to which are connected freewheel diodes. Sparks are generated between the electrodes of the ignitor, by the discharge of the capacitor in the igniter through the inductive circuit for energy recovery and by the discharge of the inductive circuit in the igniter through the freewheel diodes. The inductive circuit includes at least two inductors. The at least two inductors are connected in series with the capacitor at the time of its discharge and are connected in parallel with the terminals of the igniter at the time of their discharge.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A high energy ignition generator for gas turbines comprises and energy source connected to a circuit for charging an energy storage capacity and connection means for connecting said capacitor to a discharge circuit comprising in series two inductors for energy recovery and an igniter, one of said two inductors being connected on one side of said igniter and the other of said two inductors being connected on the other side of said igniter, and two freewheel means, one of said freewheel means being connected in parallel with a series combination of one of said inductors and said igniter and the other of said freewheel means being connected in parallel with a series combination of the other of said inductors and said igniter, so as to generate sparks between electrodes of said igniter by discharge of said capacitor in said igniter through said two inductors for energy recovery and by discharge of said two inductors in said igniter through said two freewheel means, wherein said two inductors are connected in series with said capacitor at the time of said capacitor's discharge and are connected in parallel with said igniter at the time of said inductors' discharge.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A generator according to claim 1, wherein said connection means comprises a controlled semiconductor commutation means and wherein another freewheel means is connected in parallel with a series combination of said capacitor and one of inductors.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A generator according to claim 2, wherein said controlled semiconductor commutation means comprises at least one thyristor.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

A generator according to claim 2, wherein a third inductor formed at least in part by parasitic inductance of said energy storage capacitor, is connected in series with said energy storage capacitor.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A generator according to claim 1, wherein each freewheel means comprises at least one diode.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A generator according to claim 1, wherein said two inductors are wound on the same support.