Method and apparatus for detecting ionization signal in diesel and dual mode engines with plasma discharge system
AssigneeWoodward Governor Company
InventorsLuigi P. Tozzi, Kelly J. Benson, Matthew Viele
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method to detect combustion conditions using ion signals for use in a feedback control of a diesel engine is presented. The apparatus is a spark plug type of sensor or a sensor integrated with a fuel injector. The spark plug type of sensor is used to provide a cold start mechanism combined with an ion sensing device.
Claims34
An ion sensing apparatus for detecting ion current in a combustion chamber of a diesel engine comprising:
- a spark plug having electrodes for sensing ion current;
- and
- a shield integrally attached to the spark plug such that the shield is adaptable to protect the electrodes from direct impingement of fuel spray and engulfment of diffusive flame, wherein the shield includes at least one induction orifice.
The ion sensing apparatus of claim 2 wherein the shield encloses the electrodes and forms a shielded space such that the diffusive flame is filtered through the at least one induction orifice to cause primarily premixed flame to occur within the shielded space.
An ion sensing apparatus for detecting ion current in a combustion chamber of a diesel engine comprising:
- a spark plug having electrodes for sensing ion current;
- a shield integrally attached to the spark plug such that the shield is adaptable to protect the electrodes from direct impingement of fuel spray and engulfment of diffusive flame;
- and
- a control module including an ionization module for detecting and analyzing the ion current and a plasma driver module for providing high energy sparks to the spark plug such that the spark plug can recover from fuel fouling.
An ion sensing apparatus for detecting ion current in a combustion chamber of a diesel engine comprising:
- a fuel injector;
- and
- an ion sensing mechanism integrally attached to the fuel injector such that the ion sensing mechanism is protected against direct impingement of fuel spray, the ion sensing mechanism including an electrode surrounded by a sleeve that is attached to the fuel injector.
An ion sensing apparatus for detecting ion current in a combustion chamber of a diesel engine comprising:
- a fuel injector;
- an ion sensing mechanism integrally attached to the fuel injector such that the ion sensing mechanism is protected against direct impingement of fuel spray;
- and
- a sensor temperature feedback control in communication with the ion sensing mechanism.
An ion sensing apparatus for detecting ion current in a combustion chamber of a diesel engine comprising:
- a fuel injector having a nozzle;
- an ion sensing mechanism integrally attached to the fuel injector such that the ion sensing mechanism is protected against direct impingement of fuel spray, the ion sensing mechanism comprising:
- a heating element attached to the nozzle;
- and
- an ion sensing element adjacent to the heating element and adaptable to be attached to the heating element.
An ion sensing apparatus for detecting ion current in a combustion chamber of a diesel engine comprising:
- a fuel injector;
- an ion sensing mechanism integrally attached to the fuel injector such that the ion sensing mechanism is protected against direct impingement of fuel spray;
- and
- a control module including an ionization module for detecting and analyzing the ion current and a driver module for providing current to ion sensing mechanism that is sufficiently high enough to prevent the formation of electrically conductive contaminants on the surface on the ion sensing element through resistive heating.
An ion sensing apparatus for detecting ion current in a combustion chamber of a diesel engine comprising:
- a plasma discharge plug having electrodes for sensing ion current;
- a shield integrally attached to the plasma discharge plug such that the shield is adaptable to protect the electrodes from a portion of direct impingement of fuel spray and engulfment of diffusive flame.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.