Direct Replacement Ignition Upgrade for Present and Future Combustors and Augmentors

Knite Inc.?s Kinetic Spark Ignition (KSI) is a transformational ignition technology for combustion systems including turbine and augmentor applications. The KSI technology is based upon an electromagnetic plasma railgun that maintains much of the simplicity of conventional thermal plasma ignition while removing its limitations. Thus making it an excellent candidate for a drop-in ignition upgrade. Prior testing at AFRL showed the KSI ignition system as an enabling technology that has the ability to dynamically adapt the plasma discharge for energy content and location resulting in significant potential for enhanced ignition capability. However, it is not yet clear if/how that potential translates to the most advanced turbines and augmentors. A key objective of this Phase I SBIR is to establish how the previously observed benefits translate to the most advanced engine designs. Testing on the Hi-Fi rig within the AFRL?s HPCRF facility at Wright-Patterson AFB will determine how the ignition performance translates to these advanced engines. To be able to do so, Knite will collaborate with a leading ignition component supplier to design and manufacture the KSI igniters for the test. This collaboration will also determine how readily KSI can be implemented as a drop in replacement.