Systems involving fiber optic igniters

Abstract

A gas turbine engine system comprising, a gas turbine engine including a combustion area, a laser, a fuel nozzle including a cavity operative to transmit a fuel into the combustion area, and an optical fiber engaging the cavity, operative to transmit light emitted from the laser to the combustion area, wherein the light is operative to ignite the fuel in the combustion area.

1 . A gas turbine engine system comprising:
 a gas turbine engine including a combustion area;   a laser;   a fuel nozzle including a cavity operative to transmit a fuel into the combustion area; and   an optical fiber engaging the cavity, operative to transmit light emitted from the laser to the combustion area, wherein the light is operative to ignite the fuel in the combustion area.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the optical fiber includes a distal portion operative to focus the light in the combustion area. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the distal portion is convex shaped. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises an optics portion operative to focus the light in the combustion area. 
   
   
       5 . A system for igniting combustible fuel comprising:
 a laser; and   an optical fiber partially defining a first channel and a second channel, wherein the first channel is operative to transmit light emitted from the laser to a combustion area, and the second channel is communicative with a fuel source and the combustion area and is operative to introduce fuel from the fuel source into the combustion area.   
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the system further comprises an end member disposed on a distal portion of the optical fiber proximate to the laser. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the system further comprises an optics portion disposed between the laser and the optical fiber, the optics portion operative to focus the light. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the system optical fiber comprises a photonic crystal. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the system further comprises a gas turbine engine. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the system further comprises an internal combustion engine. 
   
   
       11 . A system for igniting combustible fuel comprising:
 a laser; and   an optical fiber partially defining a channel communicative with a fuel source and a combustion area and operative to introduce fuel from the fuel source into the combustion area, wherein the channel is further operative to transmit light emitted from the laser to the combustion area and the light is operative to ignite the fuel.   
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the system further comprises an end member disposed on a distal portion of the optical fiber proximate to the laser. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the system further comprises an optics portion disposed between the laser and the optical fiber, the optics portion operative to focus the light. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the light is operative to ignite fuel in the channel. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the light is operative to ignite fuel in the combustion area. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the system further comprises a gas turbine engine.