Ignition apparatus using electrostatic nozzle and catalytic igniter

Apparatus for producing a flame to ignite in a combustor combustor fuel supplied by a main fuel nozzle, said apparatus comprising:

• a housing including a main body and an orifice for providing a passageway into said combustor;
• an electrostatic atomization fuel nozzle disposed in said main body for injecting an atomized fuel spray into said orifice;
• a catalytic element disposed distributedly adjacent a main body inner surface that defines part of the orifice for igniting the atomized fuel spray to produce said flame such that said flame is emitted beyond the orifice and into the combustor to ignite the combustor fuel;
• and an electrical energy source for supplying a variably controlled energy level to said electrostatic atomization fuel nozzle to control the profile of said emitted flame.