Calculated determination of spark discharge parameters in capacitive ignition systems of gas turbine engines based on diagnosing voltages on storage capacitors

The calculation results of the spark discharges probabilistic parameters in semiconductor spark plugs of capacitive ignition systems are presented: the energy and duration of discharges, discharge current and the criterion for the ignition ability of ignition systems based on measurements of two diagnostic quantities when it is impossible to directly measure these parameters under the conditions of gas turbine engines and full-scale test benches. Two voltages on the storage capacitor of ignition systems, measured by easily accessible means, are taken as diagnostic parameters – the voltage during the transition of the preparatory stage of the discharges to the spark stage and the voltage on the capacitor after the discharge in the semiconductor spark plug goes out. The laws of distribution of diagnostic quantities were experimentally determined, using methods of probability theory, expressions were obtained for the numerical characteristics of discharge parameters as a function of diagnostic quantities and characteristics of the elements of discharge circuits of ignition systems.