Licensable Technologies
: Engineering
: Plasma
Laser Ignition
Abstract
apparatus of the invention providing a first excitation laser or other excitation light source used in tandem with an igniter laser 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 a single remote excitation light source for one or more small lasers located proximate to one or more fuel combustion zones. In two embodiments the beam from the excitation light source is split with a portion of it going to the igniter laser and a second portion of it being combined with either the first portion after a delay before injection into the igniter laser or combined with the output of the igniter laser. In another embodiment alternating short and long pulses of light from the excitation light source are directed into the igniter laser. In the fourth embodiment the excitation light source is a laser with more than one resonating cavity; beams from one resonating cavity are directed into an igniter laser and beams from the other resonating cavity are directed into a beam combiner where they are combined with the output of the igniter laser. In a fifth embodiment an excitation light source capable of producing alternating beams of light having different wavelengths is used to pump the igniter laser.
IP Status: Available both Exclusively and Non Exclusively
Reference Number: 561
S Number: DOE reference no.(s): 89,698; 94,655; 94,656; 94,657; 94,658; 97,757
Patents & Applications:
United States National Patent Number 6676402 Issued on 01/13/2004 United States National Patent Number 6514069 Issued on 02/04/2003 United States National Patent Number 6428307 Issued on 08/06/2002 United States National Patent Number 6413077 Issued on 07/02/2002 United States National Patent Number 6394788 Issued on 05/28/2002 United States National Patent Number 6382957 Issued on 05/07/2002
Posted: 10-01-2004
Contact
John Russell
Technology Transfer Division
Los Alamos National Laboratory
P.O. Box 1663, MailStop C334
(505) 665-3941
jrussell@lanl.gov
