A newly developed small-sized IES (inductive energy storage) circuit with semiconductor switch at turn-off action was successfully applied to an ignition system. This IES circuit can generate repetitive nanosecond pulse discharges. An ignition system using repetitive nanosecond pulse discharges was investigated as an alternative to conventional spark ignition systems. Experiments were conducted using spherically expanding flame configuration for CH4 and C3H8-air mixtures under various conditions. The ignition system using repetitive nanosecond pulse discharges was found to improve inflammability of lean combustible mixtures, such as extended flammability limits, shorted ignition delay time, with increasing the number of pulses. The authors seek for the mechanisms for improving the inflammability in more detail to optimize ignition system, and verify the effectiveness of IES circuit in EGR condition, for real engine use. Moreover, an application of this ignition system to a SI engine was conducted. As a result, the lean limit was extended from 20 to 23 in A/F at IMEP 440 kPa by replacing the ignition system from a conventional one, and indicated thermal efficiency was improved by 11%.
Development of a Novel Ignition System Using Repetitive Pulse Discharges: Application to a SI Engine
Sae Int. J. Engines
SAE World Congress & Exhibition ; 2009
Sae International Journal of Engines ; 2 , 1 ; 298-306
2009-04-20
9 pages
Conference paper
English
Development of an Ignition System using Repetitive Pulse Plasma Discharges
British Library Conference Proceedings | 2008
|Automotive engineering | 2009
|British Library Conference Proceedings | 2009
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