Energy Estimation and Testing Verification on Ignition of a Torch Ignition System

The torch type electric ignition system is a desirable choice for reusable liquid vehicle engine. It is generally believed that the ignition and start-up process of engine are crucial and high-risk. However, due to the complexity of combustion experiments, the ignition and start-up process can be efficiently analysed from the perspective of energy exchange. By building the energy analysis equations of electric spark plug, ignition chamber and thrust chamber, the energy estimation method of torch type electric ignition system is established. Furthermore, the time scheduling and examining method for multi-injector ignition and start-up process of large flow liquid rocket engine with multi-injector are established. The hot-firing test of LOX/CH4 rocket engine is carried out according to the design parameters to validate the effectiveness of the energy estimation method.