A plasma combustion system was developed to improve fuel economy and efficiency without modifying the engine configuration. Non-thermal plasma generation technology with microwave was applied. Plasma was generated by spark discharge and expanded using microwaves that accelerated the plasma electrons, generating non-thermal plasma. Even at high pressures, spark discharge occurred, allowing plasma generation under high pressures. The durability and practicality of previous plasma combustion systems was improved. The system consisted of a spark plug without a resistor, a mixer circuit, and a control system. The mixer unit used a standard spark plug for plasma combustion and functioned as a high-voltage and high-frequency isolator. A commercially available magnetron produced microwaves of 2.45 GHz. The spark and microwave control system used a trigger signal set to the given crank angle, from the engine control unit. Spark and microwave control signals were sent to a pulsed power supply according to the trigger delay and duration. The spark and microwave signals were determined individually and used to control the plasma characteristics. The system was tested in a practical multi-cylinder engine to investigate the effects of plasma on the lean limit and fuel efficiency. Under low loads and lean mixtures, plasma ignition improved the initial combustion period and fuel consumption and reduced the indicated mean effective pressure (IMEP) cyclic variation. Moreover, microwave plasma improved the brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC) under high-emission gas recirculation conditions due to its stable ignition and initial flame propagation.


    Access

    Check access

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Improvement of Lean Limit and Fuel Consumption Using Microwave Plasma Ignition Technology


    Additional title:

    Sae Technical Papers


    Contributors:

    Conference:

    SAE 2012 World Congress & Exhibition ; 2012



    Publication date :

    2012-04-16




    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    Print


    Language :

    English




    Improvement of lean limit and fuel consumption using microwave plasma ignition technology

    Nishiyama,A. / Ikeda,Y. / Imagineering,US | Automotive engineering | 2012


    Extending Lean Limit with Mass-Timed Compression Ignition Using a Catalytic Plasma Torch

    Cherry, Mark A. / Beck, N. John / Morrisset, Robert J. | SAE Technical Papers | 1992


    Ignition limit of lean mixture by hydrogen flame jet ignition

    Kito,S. / Wakai,K. / Takahashi,S. et al. | Automotive engineering | 2000


    Extending lean limit with mass-timed compression ignition using a catalytic plasma torch

    Cherry,M.A. / Morrisset,R.J. / Beck,N.J. et al. | Automotive engineering | 1992