Ignition Spark Rate Verification Before Hydrogen Fuel Injection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Hydrogen fuel in gas turbine engines poses challenges due to its high reactivity, requiring precise timing of ignition to avoid fuel accumulation and uncontrolled combustion, which can lead to hardware damage.

Innovation Solution

An ignition system that determines the spark rate before injecting hydrogen fuel, ensuring it meets a spark rate threshold to prevent undesirable combustion conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If hydrogen fuel is injected into the combustor, then efficient combustion is achieved, but fuel accumulation and uncontrolled combustion occur due to high reactivity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecombustion efficiencyVSAvoidcombustion control

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by monitoring spark rate and determining ignition readiness before fuel injection occurs. The controller evaluates whether the spark rate meets threshold requirements and only permits fuel injection when conditions are appropriate, preventing fuel accumulation before it can occur.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors the spark rate generated by the igniter and provides feedback to the controller. Based on this feedback, the controller determines whether the spark rate satisfies threshold requirements and adjusts fuel injection timing accordingly, ensuring reliable combustion control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If spark rate is monitored and verified before fuel injection, then uncontrolled combustion is prevented, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecombustion controlVSAvoidignition system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The igniter system serves itself by generating electrical pulses that are automatically monitored by sensors. The controller uses this self-generated data to determine spark rate and make injection decisions, eliminating the need for separate complex monitoring systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The transmission line serving the igniter also functions as the monitoring pathway. The same electrical infrastructure used for spark generation is utilized for spark rate detection, reducing the need for additional dedicated monitoring components and simplifying the overall system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4663925A1Ignition system and method of operating a combustion engine

Publication Date: 2025.12.17 GENERAL ELECTRIC CO

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AI summary

An ignition system (100) for a combustion engine (110), includes a combustor (80), (180) having an igniter (77), (177) configured to receive a series of electrical current pulses (116), and, responsive to each electrical pulse (116), to generate a spark (179). A sensor (120) is configured to detect each electrical pulse (116) to provide a signal (121a) indicative of the electrical pulse (116) to a controller (113). The controller (113) is configured to determine, prior to an injection of a fuel (F) into the combustor (80), (180), a spark rate of the igniter (77), (177), determine whether the spark rate satisfies a spark rate threshold (145a), and in response to a determination that the spark rate satisfies the spark rate threshold (145a), initiate an injection of the fuel (F) into the combustor (80), (180).