A device and a method for improving combustion are disclosed. In an embodiment the device includes a combustion chamber including at least one combustion chamber inlet for feeding in fuel or air or the fuel/air mixture, a reactor chamber connected upstream of the combustion chamber, the reactor chamber comprising a plasma generator, wherein the plasma generator is a piezoelectric transformer configured to operate with a low voltage and a control apparatus for the plasma generator, wherein the device is configured in such a way that even before a start of an actual combustion process at least one gaseous component in the reactor chamber is enriched with radicals and ions by the plasma generator.

An internal combustion engine is described and includes a combustion chamber formed by cooperation of a cylinder bore formed in a cylinder block, a cylinder head and a piston. A plasma ignition controller is electrically connected to a groundless barrier discharge plasma igniter that includes a tip portion disposed to protrude into the combustion chamber. A current sensor is disposed to monitor secondary current flow between the plasma ignition controller and the groundless barrier discharge plasma igniter. The plasma ignition controller is disposed to execute a plasma discharge event. A controller is disposed to monitor a magnitude of the secondary current flow via the current sensor during the plasma discharge event. The controller includes an instruction set executable to evaluate integrity of the groundless barrier discharge plasma igniter based upon the magnitude of the secondary current flow during the plasma discharge event.

An on the fly fuel reformer device to produce variations in the autoignition and burning rate properties of a fuel by appropriate processing of some or all of a single fuel supply in its liquid form. The system includes a non-thermal plasma generator and/or a UV radiation source in contact with a fuel line so as to contact a multi-phase fuel in the line and dynamically modify the fuel to exhibit desired autoignition characteristics and burn rate such that the engine can operate with increased efficiency and lower emissions

A robust apparatus to improve the efficiency and emissions of a combustion process using a plurality of cell elements disposed within a housing that is placed in the air intake to a combustion chamber. Each of the plurality of cell elements include an inner electrode and an outer electrode. The inner electrodes are electrically and physically bonded to a bonding ring. The bonding ring with the bonded inner electrodes may then be encased in a potting material to provide a robust element assembly. The opposing end of the element assembly may also be bonded together in a potting material. The robust element assembly as described herein is better suited to survive the harsh environment of the ozone cell place in or near a combustion engine or process.

A piston discharge structure for a plasma cloud excitation engine is provided. The piston discharge structure includes a movement electrode, a distributed multi-cavity combustion chamber, a fixed electrode, and a variable interval discharge region. The movement electrode is provided at a top portion of a piston and includes a first combination shape and a first movement electrode structure, the distributed multi-cavity combustion chamber is provided at the top portion of the piston, the fixed electrode is provided at a top portion of a cylinder block or a bottom portion of a cylinder head and including a second combination shape and a second structure, and the variable interval discharge region is defined by the movement electrode and the fixed electrode.

Disclosed are systems, methods, and devices for generating radicals in an air stream at the intake of an internal combustion engine, as well as increasing the thrust of such air streams into the engine. A plasma generator including plasma actuators, dielectric barrier discharge electrodes, or both is positioned in the intake stream. Plasma actuators are disposed on the interior surface of the plasma generator, exposed to the intake stream. Dielectric barrier discharge electrodes protrude into the intake air stream. Plasma, preferably DBD plasma, glow plasma, or filamentary plasma, is generated in the air intake stream, creating radicals in the stream, mixing the radicals in the stream, and reducing drag while increasing thrust of air in the intake stream. A concentric cylinder can be further disposed in the plasma generator, with further plasma actuators, dielectric barrier discharge electrodes, or both, on the interior and exterior surfaces of the cylinder.

Disclosed are systems, methods, and devices for generating radicals in an air stream at the intake of an internal combustion engine, as well as increasing the thrust of such air streams into the engine. A plasma generator including plasma actuators, dielectric barrier discharge electrodes, or both is positioned in the intake stream. Plasma actuators are disposed on the interior surface of the plasma generator, exposed to the intake stream. Dielectric barrier discharge electrodes protrude into the intake air stream. Plasma, preferably DBD plasma, glow plasma, or filamentary plasma, is generated in the air intake stream, creating radicals in the stream, mixing the radicals in the stream, and reducing drag while increasing thrust of air in the intake stream. A concentric cylinder can be further disposed in the plasma generator, with further plasma actuators, dielectric barrier discharge electrodes, or both, on the interior and exterior surfaces of the cylinder.

Disclosed are systems, methods, and devices for generating radicals in an air stream at the intake of an internal combustion engine, as well as increasing the thrust of such air streams into the engine. A plasma generator including plasma actuators, dielectric barrier discharge electrodes, or both is positioned in the intake stream. Plasma actuators are disposed on the interior surface of the plasma generator, exposed to the intake stream. Dielectric barrier discharge electrodes protrude into the intake air stream. Plasma, preferably DBD plasma, glow plasma, or filamentary plasma, is generated in the air intake stream, creating radicals in the stream, mixing the radicals in the stream, and reducing drag while increasing thrust of air in the intake stream. A concentric cylinder can be further disposed in the plasma generator, with further plasma actuators, dielectric barrier discharge electrodes, or both, on the interior and exterior surfaces of the cylinder.

A piston discharge structure for a plasma cloud excitation engine is provided. The piston discharge structure includes a movement electrode, a distributed multi-cavity combustion chamber, a fixed electrode, and a variable interval discharge region. The movement electrode is provided at a top portion of a piston and includes a first combination shape and a first movement electrode structure, the distributed multi-cavity combustion chamber is provided at the top portion of the piston, the fixed electrode is provided at a top portion of a cylinder block or a bottom portion of a cylinder head and including a second combination shape and a second structure, and the variable interval discharge region is defined by the movement electrode and the fixed electrode.

Disclosed are systems, methods, and devices for generating radicals in an air stream at the intake of an internal combustion engine, as well as increasing the thrust of such air streams into the engine. A plasma generator including plasma actuators, dielectric barrier discharge electrodes, or both is positioned in the intake stream. Plasma actuators are disposed on the interior surface of the plasma generator, exposed to the intake stream. Dielectric barrier discharge electrodes protrude into the intake air stream. Plasma, preferably DBD plasma, glow plasma, or filamentary plasma, is generated in the air intake stream, creating radicals in the stream, mixing the radicals in the stream, and reducing drag while increasing thrust of air in the intake stream. A concentric cylinder can be further disposed in the plasma generator, with further plasma actuators, dielectric barrier discharge electrodes, or both, on the interior and exterior surfaces of the cylinder.