Laser ignition
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorsJames W. Early, Charles S. Lester
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Abstract
In the apparatus of the invention, a first excitation laser or other excitation light source capable of producing alternating beams of light having different wavelengths is used in tandem with one or more ignitor lasers to provide a compact, durable, engine deployable fuel ignition laser system. Reliable fuel ignition is provided over a wide range of fuel conditions by using the single remote excitation light source for pumping one or more small lasers located proximate to one or more fuel combustion zones with alternating wavelengths of light.
Claims37
An ignition apparatus comprising:
- (a) an excitation light source having the capability of producing two different wavelengths of light;
- (b) a first end of a first optical fiber positioned to collect output from said excitation light source;
- (c) a second end of said first optical fiber connected to an ignitor laser so as to permit transport of pulses of light from said excitation light source into said ignitor laser;
- and
- (d) a lens positioned to focus output of said ignitor laser into a combustible fuel.
An ignition apparatus comprising:
- (a) an excitation light source having the capability of producing two different wavelengths of light;
- (b) an optical switch positioned to receive output from said excitation light source and direct said output from said excitation light source sequentially into a plurality of ignitor lasers;
- (c) a plurality of optical fibers each of which is positioned to receive light from said optical switch and transport said light to each of said plurality of ignitor lasers;
- and
- (d) a plurality of lenses positioned to focus output of each of said ignitor lasers into a combustible fuel.
An ignition method comprising:
- (a) generating a first beam of light with an excitation light source;
- (b) directing said first beam of excitation light from said excitation light source through a first optical fiber into an ignitor laser, causing output of a first ignitor laser beam;
- (c) generating with said excitation light source a second beam of excitation light having a wavelength different from the wavelength of said first beam of light;
- (d) directing said second beam of excitation light through said optical fiber into said ignitor laser, causing a second output of a second ignitor laser beam;
- and
- (e) directing output of said ignitor laser into a focal point in a combustible fuel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.