Turbine engine ignition system

 Intro:
◼ To ensure gas turbine engine will start satisfactorily;
 The engine must be able to rotate the compressor and turbine
 System must enable to ignite fuel and mixture
KNOWN AS STARTING AND IGNITION SYSTEM.
◼ The functioning of both system is coordinated during the STARTING
CYCLE.
◼ Unlike piston engine, gas turbine engine utilized during starting, once
light up and self-sustained the ignition no longer required.
 The electrical energy require to:
◼ Ignite the mixture varies with atmospheric and flight condition.
◼ More power needed as altitude increases.
◼ Two independent 12 joule or some engine have combination of 12 and
3 joule.
 3 joule for continuous operation for relight.
 Classify into two type:
◼ Induction type
 Producing high-tension spark by conventional induction coil (now
obsolete).
◼ Capacitor type
 Cause ignition by means of high-energy and very high temperature
spark produce by condenser discharged.
Function of the ignition system

 Primary is to ignite the fuel and air

mixture during starting.
 Secondly provide standby protection
against in flight flame out.
◼ Consist of:
 Continuous or
 Automatic relight setting
Continuous re light setting

 Incorporates separate low tension

continuous duty circuit.
 Selected by the pilot
 One or both igniter plugs.
Automatic re light setting

 Automatically re light base on one or

more parameters.
 Most common parameter – utilizes
pressure sensor to monitor pressure at
the compressor outlet.
 Drop in compressor discharged pressure
the ignition system will activated
automatically.
Ignition system components
◼ Ignition exciter
 Small box mounted on and secured to the
engine.
 Flexible absorption mount to isolate the
exciter from the effects of engine-induced
vibration.
 Sealed box containing electronic
components
 It transformed the input voltage to a pulsed
high-voltage output to the igniter unit
through the high ignition leads.
Ignition system components
Capacitor - discharge
 Used on most gas turbine engine.’
 Delivered high voltage, high amperage spark with high
heat intensity.
◼ Required to ignite the fuel /air mixture in low temperature
and at high altitude.
 Two common type capacitor-discharge;
◼ High tension
◼ Low tension system.
 Both system consist of two identical independent system:
◼ Transformer or exciter unit (1)
◼ High-tension leads (2)
◼ Igniter plugs (2)
Low – tension system
 Battery;
◼ Supply 28 DCV to the
exciter unit.
 Exciter unit;
◼ Step up 28 VDC to high
voltage pulses.
◼ Vibrator converted the
DC.
 Igniter unit; called self-
ionizing or shunted-gap-
type.
◼ Received high voltage
from exciter unit to ignite
the fuel and air mixture.
◼ Semi-conductor material
which bridge the gap
between the center and
ground electrode.
Low tension system
 Low – tension system circuit
 Vibrator – pulsated DC in the primary coil’s.
◼ Consist of permanent magnet and points.
 Capacitor – prevent arcing.
 Bleed resistor:
◼ Allow the capacitor slowly discharge when de-
energized.
◼ Protect the circuit from overheating when the
ignition system energized without igniter plugs
installed.
 High-tension system
 Utilizes 115 volt, 400hz AC current.
 One complete cycle produce total charge of
4000 volts and store at storage capacitor.
 Storage capacitor charge by the repeated
pulses.
 When air pap in gas discharger tube ionizes
cause current flow to the trigger transformer
and primary winding and trigger capacitor to
ground.
 20000 volt pulses ionizes igniter plug air gap
through the secondary winding.
Hi tension system
Igniters
 Purpose to ignite the mixture fuel and air in the
combustion chamber.
 Located at the compressor outlet/combustion chamber
inlet.
 Consist of:
◼ Central electrode.
 Inconel chromel D
 Tungsten
 Nickel alloy.
◼ Outer body – nickel chrome alloy.
 Corrosion resistance
 Low coefficient of heat expansion.
◼ Insulating material
 Aluminum-oxide ceramic
Igniter plugs
Type of igniters
 Varies according to the engine that
design.
 The procedure should refer to an
appropriate engine manual.
 When installed the igniter tip must
protrude approximately 0.1 inch into the
combustion chamber.
 Constrained-gap igniter does not
protrude, its recess in the plug body.
Glow plug

 Utilizes on small turbine and turbo-

propeller engine.
 Serve the same function with the
igniters.
 Consist of coil that generate high heat
value that capable to ignite the fuel and
air mixture.
 Power by 24 to 28 volts.
Glow plug
Inspection and maintenance
 Ignition exciter:
 CAUTION – ELECTRICAL CURRENT STORE
IN THE HIGH ENERGY IGNITION UNIT IS
POTENTIALLY LETHAL AND EVEN THOUGH
THE CAPACITOR IS DISCHARGED WHEN
THE DC SUPPLY IS DISCONNECTED.
 APPROPRIATE CB SHOULD BE TRIPPED
OR REMOVED FUSE BEFORE HANDLING
THESE COMPONENTS.
 AT LEAST ONE MINUTE ALLOWED TO
ELAPSE BEFORE TOUCHING THE IGNITION
UNIT ON ITS MOUNTINGS.
Starting System
 Introduction:
◼ To accelerate the engine to the point that where the
turbine is producing enough power to continue the
engine’s accelerate, called self-accelerating speed.
◼ The starting system base upon:
 Length of the starting cycle.
◼ Time
◼ Speed
◼ Length of time spend by the engine.
 Availability of starting power:
◼ Electrical
◼ pneumatic
 Design features
◼ Weight
◼ Simplicity
◼ Reliability cost maintainability.
Starting System

 Type of gas turbine starter:

◼ Electric motor starter
◼ Electric motor-generator (starter-gene)
◼ Pneumatic or air turbine starter
◼ Combustion starter
◼ Cartridge starter
◼ Air-impingement starter
◼ Hydraulic motor starter.
◼ Liquid monopropellant starter( hydrazine add
water)
◼ Hand-crank starter.
Turbine engine starting systems

 Generally connected to
◼ Reduction gear box turn the compressor.
◼ High speed compressor and N1 turbine.
 Incorporated with speed sensor to disengages starter.
Note:
Hung start – the condition where the fuel and air ignites and
engine does not accelerate to idle RPM – SHUT DOWN.
 Turbo-prop starter:
◼ Free-turbine – less power and lighter weight starter.
◼ Fixed shaft – high torque, and propeller set at low pitch.
Electric starter

 Two type:
◼ Starter-generator
◼ Direct-cranking starter
Starter Generator
 Dual function:
◼ Act as a starter
◼ As a generator
 Efficiency and light in weight.
 Incorporated of:
◼ torsional dampener to protect the drive quill against
engine torsional vibration.
◼ Series winding – provide low speed and high
torque.
◼ Shunt winding – when act as a generator.
 Control of starter generator:
◼ Undercurrent controller
 Ensure positive engagement of starter during start
until self sustaining start.
Starter Generator
Undercurrent controller

 Consist of :
◼ Starter solenoid - supply power to the starter
generator.
◼ Undercurrent solenoid – closed when current flow
through the starter solenoid.
 Keep
◼ the starter solenoid energized and
◼ Ignition solenoid energized.
◼ Allow the start switch return to neutral.
◼ When starter drawn less than 200 Amps, cause
undercurrent solenoid open – stop current flow to
the starter and ignition solenoid.
Current controller
Direct-cranking starter
 Used for starting:
◼ Auxiliary power unit.
◼ Ground power unit.
◼ Small gas turbine engine.
 Consist of:
◼ Electric motor
◼ Reduction gear
◼ Clutch mechanism:
 Prevent over torque set to slip approximately 130
inc-lbs.
 Act as over-run-prevent the engine from driving
the starter burst speed.
Starter Generator
Air turbine starter
 Consist of two type:
◼ Low pressure air turbine starter
◼ High pressure air turbine starter.
 Consist of:
◼ turbine wheel
◼ Reduction gear
◼ Clutch assembly
 Advantage – light in weight yet produce high torque ratio. (low
weight to high torque)
 Disadvantage – it require a high volume of air flow
approximately 50 to 100 lbs/inc at pressure of 40 psig.
 Used on:
◼ Boeing 707, 720, 747
◼ DC 8, 9, 10
◼ Lockheed
◼ KC 135
◼ B 52
◼ F 111
Air turbine starter

 Utilized pneumatic source from:

◼ Auxiliary power unit
◼ Ground power unit
◼ Engine bleed air system (started engine)
◼ Storage air system
Air turbine starter
Air turbine starter
Air turbine starter
Low pressure air-turbine starter
 Design to operate high volume, low-
pressure supply.
 Light weight starter
 Received pneumatic supply either form:
◼ Auxiliary power unit (APU)
◼ Ground power unit (GPU)
◼ Engine bleed air (started engine)
 Turbine rotate approximately 55,000
rpm, the reduction gear convert high
speed to high torque-low rpm by means
of 23.2 : 1 reduction.
High-pressure air-turbine starter

 Essentially the same as low-pressure

turbine starter.
 Except that if equipped with axial-flow
turbine in place o radial inward-flow
turbine.
 It fitted to the low and high pressure air
connector.
 Usually air supply from:
◼ Air bottle mounted in aircraft. Charged to a
pressure 3000 psi.
Air turbine starter
 Clutch assembly:
◼ Provide an engagement to the engine.
 Consist of:
◼ Pawl
◼ Leaf spring
◼ Sprag clutch ratchet
 Shear point – to prevent starter from
damage in the event that the clutch does
not release from the engine drive shaft.
Clutch assembly
Air supply valve

 Located at air inlet line before the pneumatic

starter.
 Control and regulate the air to the air starter
turbine.
 Consist of:
◼ Control switch (cockpit)
◼ Solenoid (energized by switch, de-energized by
centrifugal cut-off flyweight sw)
◼ Pilot valve cap.
◼ Bellows
◼ Servo piston butterfly regulating valve.
Air supply valve
Combustion starter
 Known as gas-turbine starter.;
 Self contained starter consist of:
◼ Turbine
◼ Compressor – small centrifugal compressor
◼ Combustion – reverse flow combustion chamber.
◼ Oil system
◼ Fuel system
 Ignition system
◼ Exhaust system
 Automatic operation – shut down by cut-off.
 Use the fuel from aircraft
Combustion starter
Cartridge type starter or solid
propellant
 Utilized solid fuel cartridge.
 Once ignite it produce gasses
approximately 2000 deg F, 1200 psi and
turn the starter for about 5 seconds.
 Advantage does not required external
source..’
 Disadvantages:
◼ High cost
◼ Cause erosion to the turbine part by solid
particles in hot gases.
Cartridge starter
Impingement
 Simplest type of starter.
 Some turbojet engine are not fitted with
starter motor but instead used air force
onto the turbine blades as a mean to
rotate the engine.
 The air is obtained from
◼ External source or
◼ Running engine.
 The air flow through non-return valve
and nozzle onto the turbine blades.
Impingement
Turbine Engine Starting
Systems
 Gas turbine engines are normally started by first rotating the
compressor with a starter to move air through the engine and
purge it of any fuel vapors that may have collected, then the
ignition system is energized. When the engine has reached a
specified RPM, fuel is sprayed into the combustors and the
engine starts.
 As soon as it accelerates to a self-sustaining idle speed, the
starter and ignition systems are deactivated. The start follows
automatically. In dual-spool axial-flow engines, the starter
rotates the high-pressure (N 2) compressor because it has less
mass than the N1 compressor and requires less energy from
the starter.
 Neither the starter nor the turbine wheel has sufficient
power on their own to bring an engine from rest to idle
rpm. however, when used in combination, the process takes
place smoothly in approximately 30 seconds on a typical
engine.