Optical ignition of fuels

Abstract

A method of combustion includes: (1) introducing microparticles and nanoparticles into a combustion chamber, where the microparticles and the nanoparticles are formed of different materials; and (2) using an optical source, irradiating the microparticles and the nanoparticles within the combustion chamber to ignite the microparticles.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of combustion, comprising:
 introducing microparticles and nanoparticles into a combustion chamber, wherein the microparticles and the nanoparticles are formed of different materials; and   using an optical source, irradiating the microparticles and the nanoparticles within the combustion chamber to ignite the microparticles.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticles are formed of a metal oxide. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the metal oxide is tungsten oxide. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the microparticles are formed of a metal. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the metal is aluminum. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein a molar ratio of the metal oxide to the metal is in the range of 1:10 to 1:1. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein irradiating the microparticles and the nanoparticles is carried out at an energy density up to 1 J/cm 2 . 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the microparticles have sizes in the range of 500 nm to 1 μm. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the microparticles have sizes in the range of 1 μm to 10 μm. 
     
     
         10 . A reaction device comprising:
 a housing defining an internal chamber;   a reaction material disposed within the internal chamber and including microparticles and nanoparticles that are formed of different materials; and   an optical ignition system connected to the housing and operable to irradiate the microparticles and the nanoparticles to ignite the reaction material.   
     
     
         11 . The reaction device of  claim 10 , wherein the microparticles are formed of a metal, and the nanoparticles are formed of a metal oxide. 
     
     
         12 . The reaction device of  claim 11 , wherein the metal is aluminum. 
     
     
         13 . The reaction device of  claim 11 , wherein the metal oxide is tungsten oxide. 
     
     
         14 . The reaction device of  claim 11 , wherein a molar ratio of the metal oxide to the metal is in the range of 1:10 to 1:1. 
     
     
         15 . The reaction device of  claim 11 , wherein a molar ratio of the metal oxide to the metal is in the range of 1:5 to 1:1. 
     
     
         16 . The reaction device of  claim 11 , wherein the optical ignition system is operable to irradiate the microparticles and the nanoparticles at an energy density up to 1 J/cm 2 . 
     
     
         17 . The reaction device of  claim 16 , wherein the microparticles have sizes in the range of 500 nm to 1 μm. 
     
     
         18 . The reaction device of  claim 16 , wherein the microparticles have sizes in the range of 1 μm to 10 μm.