Fluid insulated injector-igniter
View Patent ↗A system for transferring and igniting a fuel comprising a fuel supply and a cryogenic fuel processor connected to the fuel supply and operative to remove impurities from the fuel. The system includes a power supply and an injector-igniter. The injector-igniter includes an injector housing connected to the power supply and having a fuel inlet connected to the fuel processor. An actuator body is disposed in the housing and a conductor sleeve is connected to the power supply and supported between the actuator body and injector housing with a first annular gap between the injector housing and the conductor sleeve. There is also a second annular gap between the actuator body and conductor sleeve, wherein the first and second annular gaps are in fluid communication with the fuel inlet, whereby fuel provides a dielectric between the conductor sleeve and the injector housing.
1. An ignition system for igniting a fuel, comprising:
a voltage potential generation means;
an electrically conductive means for conveying a voltage generated by the voltage potential generation means;
a combination of a solid dielectric means and a fluid dielectric means for insulating the electrically conductive means; and
a delivery means for delivering the voltage to cause ignition of the fuel.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid dielectric means includes at least one of an inert dielectric substance and the fuel.
3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a fluid processing means for removing fluid impurities from the fluid dielectric means, wherein the fluid processing means includes a fluid-impurities collection means for collecting the fluid impurities for later use.
4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the fluid processing means comprises cooling the fluid dielectric means to a cryogenic temperature.
5. The system of claim 3 , further comprising a sensor means for sensing impurities in the fluid dielectric means.
6. A system for transferring and igniting a fluid fuel, comprising:
a voltage potential generation means;
a conductive means for conveying a voltage generated by the voltage potential generation means;
a combination of a solid dielectric means and a fluid dielectric means for insulating the conductive means;
a transfer means for transferring the fluid fuel; and
a delivery means for delivering the voltage to cause ignition of the fuel.
7. The system of claim 6 , further comprising an adaptive timing means for repeated delivery of the fluid fuel and an ionization means for ionizing the fuel.
8. A fuel injector-igniter, comprising:
an injector housing;
an actuator body disposed in the housing;
a conductor sleeve supported between the actuator body and injector housing with a first annular gap between the injector housing and the conductor sleeve; and
a second annular gap between the actuator body and conductor sleeve;
wherein the first and second annular gaps are in fluid communication with a fuel inlet, whereby fuel provides a dielectric between the conductor sleeve and the injector housing.
9. The fuel injector-igniter according to claim 8 , further comprising an outwardly opening valve.
10. The fuel injector-igniter according to claim 9 , further comprising a piezoelectric actuator and a hydraulic stroke amplifier disposed in the actuator body and operatively connected to the outwardly opening valve.
11. The fuel injector-igniter according to claim 8 , wherein fuel provides a dielectric between the conductor sleeve and actuator body.
12. The fuel injector-igniter according to claim 8 , wherein the injector-igniter is adapted to use compressed natural gas.
13. The fuel injector-igniter according to claim 8 , further comprising a first electrode electrically connected to the conductor sleeve and a second electrode electrically connected to the housing.
14. A system for transferring and igniting a fuel, comprising:
a fuel supply;
a cryogenic fuel processor connected to the fuel supply and operative to remove impurities from fuel supplied therefrom;
a power supply; and
an injector-igniter, including:
an injector housing connected to the power supply and having a fuel inlet connected to the fuel processor;
an actuator body disposed in the housing;
a conductor sleeve connected to the power supply and supported between the actuator body and injector housing with a first annular gap between the injector housing and the conductor sleeve; and
a second annular gap between the actuator body and conductor sleeve;
wherein the first and second annular gaps are in fluid communication with the fuel inlet, whereby fuel provides a dielectric between the conductor sleeve and the injector housing; and
a first electrode electrically connected to the conductor sleeve and a second electrode electrically connected to the housing.
15. The system according to claim 14 , wherein fuel provides a dielectric between the conductor sleeve and actuator body.
16. The system according to claim 14 , wherein the injector-igniter is adapted to use compressed natural gas.
17. The system according to claim 14 , wherein fuel processor includes an impurity collector.
18. The system according to claim 14 , further comprising a piezoelectric actuator disposed in the actuator body.
19. The system according to claim 18 , further comprising an outwardly opening valve.
20. The system according to claim 19 , further comprising a hydraulic stroke amplifier disposed in the actuator body and operatively connected between the piezoelectric actuator and the outwardly opening valve.