Corona Igniter Shaped Insulator Preventing Power-Arcing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Corona discharge ignition systems face issues with undesirable power-arcing due to conductive paths forming between the central electrode and shell, depleting the corona discharge and degrading ignition quality.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an insulator with an abruption feature that reverses the electric field and voltage potential gradient, preventing negative and positive ions from reaching the central electrode and forming a conductive path, thereby blocking the electrical path and sustaining a robust corona discharge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a standard insulator is used without abruption, then the structure is simpler and easier to manufacture, but conductive paths form between the shell and central electrode causing power-arcing and depleting corona discharge
Solution Approach 1:
The insulator is designed with a localized abruption feature that creates a specific geometric discontinuity on its outer surface. This local structural modification concentrates the electric field in a controlled manner, preventing conductive path formation between the shell and central electrode while maintaining the overall simplicity of the insulator design.
Solution Approach 2:
The abruption feature is pre-formed on the insulator surface to proactively interrupt potential conductive paths before they can develop. By creating this geometric feature in advance during manufacturing, the design prevents power-arcing and corona discharge depletion without requiring additional components or complex operational controls.
2Ease of manufacture
If the insulator outer surface is smooth and continuous, then manufacturing is easier, but negative ions can follow the voltage potential gradient to the central electrode forming conductive paths
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the entire insulator surface complex, only a localized abruption feature is introduced on the outer surface. This local geometric modification is sufficient to disrupt the voltage potential gradient and prevent negative ion migration, while the rest of the insulator maintains a simple, easy-to-manufacture continuous surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The abruption feature acts as an intermediary geometric element that mediates between the simple continuous surface and the need to prevent conductive paths. This intermediate structure modifies the electric field distribution locally, blocking ion migration without requiring complete surface complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The abruption feature enhances ignition quality by preventing power-arcing and maintaining a robust corona discharge, leading to improved combustion efficiency compared to systems without this design.
Implementation Method 1
The insulator outer surface presents an abruption extending radially outward relative to the central electrode. The abruption feature enhances ignition quality by preventing power-arcing and maintaining a robust corona discharge
Implementation Method 2
a corona igniter for emitting a radio frequency electric field to ionize a fuel-air mixture and provide a corona discharge
Implementation Method 3
emitting the radio frequency electric field to ionize the fuel-air mixture and provide the corona discharge
Data Source
AI summary
A corona igniter (20) for emitting a radio frequency electric field and providing a corona discharge (24) includes a central electrode (22) at a positive voltage, a grounded metal shell (30), and an insulator (28) with an abruption (34) extending radially outward relative to the central electrode (22). The abruption (34) is typically an increase of at least 15% of a local thickness (t) of the insulator (28) over less than 25% of a nose length (el) of an insulator nose region (74). The abruption (34) is typically one flank (82) of a protrusion or a notch, and the flank (82) faces the shell (30). The abruption (34) reverses the electric field and voltage potential gradient along the insulator outer surface (32), repels charged ions away from the insulator (28), and thus prevents the formation of a conductive path between the central electrode (22) and the shell (22).