# US 8,783,009 B2 · Method and system for enhancing start of a turbine engine, and ignition module > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,783,009 B2 - Document ID: US8783009B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/879,227 - Filed: 2010-09-10 - Published: 2010-12-30 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2008-03-11 - Assignees: Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. - Applicants: Savely Khosid; Arie Peretz; Amichay H. Gross; Amiran Leitner - Inventors: Savely Khosid; Arie Peretz; Amichay H. Gross; Amiran Leitner - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8783009B2 ## CPC - F02C 7/264: Ignition - F02C 7/272: generated by cartridges - F05D 2230/80: Repairing, retrofitting or upgrading methods - 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) - F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS ## Abstract A method, a system, and a product for enhancing the start of a turbine engine by providing a replaceable ignition module including a solid combustible substance, that when ignited, or a solid oxidizer substance, that when heated, releases hot gases rich in oxidizing species. The module includes a solid substance(s) appropriately selected as: a solid-propellant grain (SPG) and a solid oxidizer (SO); or an oxygen-rich burning substance (OBSS); or a solid-propellant grain and an oxygen-rich burning substance; or an oxygen-rich burning solid substance and a solid oxidizer. The replaceable module further contains an initiator for the initiation of the solid combustible substance, or solid-propellant grain by an initiation command (IC). The hot gases released by the ignition module start and enhance the combustion process of the air-and-fuel mixture by successive fuel heating and vaporization, followed by ignition. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for enhancing a start of a turbine engine for reliably and rapidly reaching a stable operational regime, the turbine engine having an exterior and an interior comprising a compressor for ingesting and compressing air, a turbine coupled to the compressor, and at least one combustion chamber provided with a controlled mixture of compressed air from the compressor and fuel from a fuel feed system, to allow start of a combustion process when ignited, the method comprising providing at least one replaceable ignition module including at least one solid combustible substance that when ignited, causes release of hot gases rich in oxidizing species, or at least one decomposing oxidizer substance that when heated, releases hot gases rich in oxidizing species, coupling the at least one replaceable ignition module in sealed releasable retention and in fluid communication to the at least one combustion chamber of the turbine engine, initiating ignition of the at least one solid combustible substance or of decomposition of the at least one decomposing oxidizer substance and consequent release of hot gases rich in oxidizing species, ducting the hot gases rich in oxidizing species into the at least one combustion chamber to start the combustion process by ignition of the air and fuel mixture, and exhausting combustion products via the turbine, whereby the hot gases rich in oxidizing species start and enhance the combustion process for reliably and rapidly reaching a stable operational regime, wherein the at least one replaceable ignition module further includes at least one exhaust port coupled in fluid communication via at least one turbine starting conduit to the turbine or via at least one compressor starting conduit to the compressor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein: the at least one replaceable ignition module comprises at least one solid substance appropriately selected from the group consisting of: a) a solid propellant grain and a solid oxidizer; b) an oxygen-rich burning solid substance; c) a solid propellant grain and an oxygen-rich burning solid substance; and d) an oxygen-rich burning solid substance and a solid oxidizer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein: the at least one replaceable ignition module contains at least one initiator for initiation of the at least one solid combustible substance in response to an initiation command. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein: the at least one replaceable ignition module includes at least one initiator for the ignition of the at least one solid combustible substance, and the combustion of the at least one solid combustible substance causes the generation of hot gases rich in oxidizing species. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein: the hot gases rich in oxidizing species are generated in situ. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein: the hot gases rich in oxidizing species start the combustion process of the air and fuel mixture by successive heating and fuel vaporization followed by ignition. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein: the turbine engine comprises a plurality of combustion chambers, and the at least one replaceable ignition module is coupled to at least one combustion chamber out of the plurality of combustion chambers. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein: the at least one replaceable ignition module is coupled via at least one coupling element to the at least one combustion chamber. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein: the at least one replaceable ignition module is a unitary device having an initiator selected from the group consisting of electrical initiator and pyrotechnic initiators. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein: the at least one replaceable ignition module is configured for exchangeable replacement after depletion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein: the at least one replaceable ignition module is configured for retrofit into existing turbine engines. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein: the at least one replaceable ignition module is disposed on the exterior of the turbine engine. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein: the at least one replaceable ignition module is configured as a single unitary module. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein: the at least one ignition module is replaceable without requiring dismantling of the turbine engine. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein: the at least one replaceable ignition module is void of a substance under pressure. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein: a portion of the hot gases rich in oxidizing species are ducted via the at least one exhaust port and the at least one turbine starting conduit or compressor starting conduit, for impinging on and initiating rotation of the, respectively, turbine or compressor. ### Claim 17 A system operative for enhancing a start procedure of a turbine engine having an exterior and an interior, the system comprising: the turbine engine having a compressor for ingesting and for compressing air, a turbine coupled to the compressor, at least one combustion chamber provided with a controlled mixture of compressed air from the compressor and fuel from a fuel feed system, to allow start of a combustion process when ignited, at least one replaceable ignition module containing at least one solid combustible substance that when ignited, causes generation of hot gaseous oxidizing species, or at least one decomposing oxidizer substance that when heated, releases hot gases rich in oxidizing species, and the replaceable ignition module being coupled in sealed releasable retention and in fluid communication to the at least one combustion chamber, at least one initiator also contained in the at least one replaceable ignition module, for initiating ignition of the at least one solid combustible substance or of decomposition of the at least one decomposing oxidizer substance and subsequent generation of hot gases rich in oxidizing species, and a chamber passage for ducting the hot gases rich in oxidizing species from the replaceable ignition module into the combustion chamber for starting the combustion process by ignition of the inflammable air and fuel mixture, whereafter resulting combustion products are exhausted via the turbine, and whereby the hot gases rich in oxidizing species generated by the replaceable at least one ignition module start and enhance the combustion process for rapidly reaching a stable operational regime of the turbine engine, wherein the at least one replaceable ignition module further includes at least one exhaust port coupled in fluid communication via at least one turbine starting conduit to the turbine or via at least one compressor starting conduit to the compressor. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system according to claim 17, wherein: the at least one replaceable ignition module comprises at least one solid substance appropriately selected from the group consisting of: a) a solid propellant grain and a solid oxidizer, b) an oxygen-rich burning solid substance, c) a solid propellant grain and an oxygen-rich burning solid substance, and d) an oxygen-rich burning solid substance and a solid oxidizer. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The system according to claim 17, wherein: the at least one replaceable ignition module contains at least one initiator for initiation of the at least one solid combustible substance in response to an initiation command. ### Claim 20 A replaceable ignition module configured for enhancing a start procedure of a turbine engine having an interior and an exterior, a compressor for ingesting and for compressing air, a turbine coupled to the compressor, and at least one combustion chamber receiving compressed air from the compressor and providing a controlled inflammable mixture of air and fuel dosed to allow start of a combustion process when ignited, the replaceable ignition module comprising: a module housing encasing at least one solid combustible substance that causes generation of hot gases rich in oxidizing species when ignited, or at least one decomposing oxidizer substance that when heated, releases hot gases rich in oxidizing species, the module housing being coupled in sealed releasable 15 retention and in fluid communication with the at least one combustion chamber, at least one initiator for initiating ignition of the at least one solid combustible substance or of decomposition of the at least one decomposing oxidizer substance and subsequent generation of hot gases rich in oxidizing species, and a chamber passage for ducting the hot gases rich in oxidizing species into the at least one combustion chamber for starting the combustion process by ignition of the inflammable air-fuel mixture, whereafter resulting combustion products are exhausted via the turbine, whereby the hot gases rich in oxidizing species released by the at least one replaceable ignition module start and enhance the combustion process for rapidly reaching a stable operational regime of the turbine engine, wherein the at least one replaceable ignition module further includes at least one exhaust port coupled in fluid communication via at least one turbine starting conduit to the turbine or via at least one compressor starting conduit to the compressor.