CATALYTIC INTEGRAL IGNITOR/INJECTOR FOR IMPROVED IGNITION/STABILITY AND ALTITUDE RELIGHT

INTEGRATING A CATALYTIC IGNITOR INTO AN AIR BLAST FUEL INJECTOR OFFERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE FLAME STABILITY AND ALTITUDE RELIGHT, AMONG OTHER ADVANTAGES. PREVIOUS WORK BY PRECISION COMBUSTION DEVELOPING A CATALYTIC GLOW PLUG HAS SHOWN THAT A CATALYTIC IGNITOR OFFERS SUBSTANTIALLY IMPROVED IGNITION OVER CONVENTIONAL (NON-CATALYTIC) SURFACE IGNITION DEVICES. IN THIS PROJECT WE PROPOSE TO USE THIS IMPROVED IGNITION CAPABILITY TO ACHIEVE AN EFFECTIVE INTEGRAL HIGH SHEAR AIR BLAST IGNITOR/INJECTOR SUITABLE FOR IMPROVING AIRCRAFT GAS TURBINE IGNITION AND BLOWOUT LIMITS. IN PHASE I, A MODIFIED DESIGN OF AN AIRBLAST INJECTOR FITTED WITH A CATALYTIC IGNITOR WILL BE MADE AND BENCH TESTED. TESTING IN A LABORATORY ANNULAR SEGMENT COMBUSTOR WILL EXPLORE IGNITION AND BLOWOUT PERFORMANCE. THESE RESULTS WILL BE USED TO OPTIMIZE THE CATALYTIC IGNITOR/INJECTOR INTEGRATION SCHEME FOR ENGINE TESTING. RESULTS WILL INDICATE POTENTIAL FOR IMPROVEMENT BASED ON THIS TECHNOLOGY. A STUDY OF TOTAL SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS AND AN OPTIMIZED DESIGN CONCEPT WILL BE CONDUCTED. PHASE II WILL BUILD ON PHASE I RESULTS TO DEVELOP AND TEST THE TECHNOLOGY FOR A GAS TURBINE ENGINE CURRENTLY USED OR PLANNED FOR USE BY THE AIR FORCE.