Laser based ignition system for natural gas reciprocating engines, laser based ignition system having capability to detect successful ignition event; and distributor system for use with high-powered pulsed lasers

A laser based ignition (LBI) system for stationary natural gas engines comprising:

• a high power pulsed laser providing a pulsed emission output;
• a plurality of laser plugs coupled to said high power pulsed laser;
• a respective one of said plurality of laser plugs being provided in an engine cylinder;
• and each said laser plug focuses a laser emission output from said pulsed laser to a focal spot having a high electric field gradient at said focal spot for photoionization of a combustible mixture resulting in ignition;
• a rotating mirror distributor and a fiber optic delivery system coupled between said high power pulsed laser and said plurality of laser plugs;
• each said laser plug being coupled to an optical fiber using a single plano-convex lens.

A laser based ignition (LBI) system for stationary natural gas engines comprising:

• a high power pulsed laser providing a pulsed laser output;
• an electronic interface coupled to said high power pulsed laser for controlling timing of said pulsed laser output;
• a plurality of laser plugs;
• a respective one of said plurality of laser plugs being provided in an engine cylinder;
• a rotating mirror distributor coupled to said electronic interface and said plurality of laser plugs by a fiber optic delivery system;
• said rotating mirror distributor enabling sequential distribution of said pulsed laser output from said high-power laser to said laser plugs;
• each said laser plug focusing a laser emission output from said pulsed laser to a focal spot having a high electric field gradient at said focal spot for photoionization of a combustible mixture resulting in ignition;
• said fiber optic delivery system including a plurality of optical fibers, each being coupled between said rotating mirror distributor and a respective laser plug for transmission of the pulsed laser beam output to laser plugs;
• and
• an ignition event detector coupled to said rotating mirror distributor including a series of dichroic mirrors, each having an associated photo detector coupled to one said optical fiber;
• and wherein a successful ignition event results in a photoemission being transmitted back through said optical fiber through said dichroic mirror and being collected by said associated photo detector.

A laser based ignition (LBI) system for stationary natural gas engines comprising:

• a high power pulsed laser providing a pulsed laser output;
• an electronic interface coupled to said high power pulsed laser for controlling timing of said pulsed laser output;
• a plurality of laser plugs;
• a respective one of said plurality of laser plugs being provided in an engine cylinder;
• a rotating mirror distributor coupled to said electronic interface and each of said plurality of laser plugs by an optical fiber;
• said rotating mirror distributor enabling sequential distribution of said pulsed laser output from said high-power laser to said laser plugs;
• each said laser plug focusing a laser emission output from said pulsed laser to a focal spot having a high electric field gradient at said focal spot for photoionization of a combustible mixture resulting in ignition;
• and
• an ignition event detector coupled to said rotating mirror distributor including a series of dichroic mirrors, each having an associated photo detector coupled to said optical fiber;
• and wherein a successful ignition event results in a photoemission being transmitted back through said optical fiber through said dichroic mirror and being collected by said associated photo detector.