scholarly journals RAILPLUG IGNITION SYSTEM FOR ENHANCED ENGINE PERFORMANCE AND REDUCED MAINTENANCE

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ron Matthews
Author(s):  
A. K. Chan ◽  
S. H. Waters

An ignition system that is based on the alternating (AC) rather than the traditional direct (DC) current in the spark plug discharge has been developed at the Caterpillar Technical Center. This system can generate a long duration discharge with controllable power. It is believed that such an ignition system can provide both a leaner operating limit and a longer spark plug life than a traditional DC system due to the long discharge duration and the low discharge power. The AC ignition system has successfully been tested on a Caterpillar single cylinder G3500 natural gas engine to determine the effects on the engine performance, combustion characteristics and emissions. The test results indicate that while the AC ignition system has only a small impact on engine performance (with respect to a traditional DC system), it does extend the lean limit with lower NOx emissions. Evidences also show the potential of reduce spark plug electrode erosions from the low breakdown and sustaining discharge powers from the AC ignition system. This paper summarizes the prototype design and engine demonstration results of the AC ignition system.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marek Vorlíček ◽  
◽  
Jozef Čerňan

This paper explains the basic definition of ignition, combustion and description of the ignition system functionality. The ignition systems are divided according to established criteriums into the most used types and descriptions of each ignition system components. It focuses on ignition timing and circumstances that affect it and how they influence the observed parameters. I am using ignition timing as an instrument for the observation and optimization of ignition. These practices are tested on piston engine in the practical part of this paper. It describes the modification of the timing curve, measuring of engine power and comparison between each curve. It is an analysis of engine performance under different conditions. The most efficient timing curve is chosen and further evaluated. The used engine for this paper was a rebuild from a car engine used in Trabant 601, VEB Automobilwerke automobile.


Author(s):  
C R Stone ◽  
A B Steele

This study investigates the effect of ignition parameters on the cyclic dispersion and the specific fuel consumption of a carburetted single-cylinder engine. Ignition energy measurements were made on the low- and high-voltage sides of the ignition coil, and the performance was predicted satisfactorily by a simple model with passive elements. The spark energy was varied by changing the spark plug gap and the coil-on-time. The spark energy was measured in a special calorimeter: the aim was to find a correlation between engine performance and the spark energy measured by the calorimeter. The tests were conducted at part load and low speed with a weak mixture, as these conditions are known to give high levels of cyclic dispersion. The spark calorimeter showed a higher spark plug conversion efficiency for spark plugs with large gaps. However, the spark plug gap was found to be a more significant determinant of engine performance than the spark energy measured by the calorimeter. The experimental results are preceded by a review of ignition phenomena and their influence on combustion.


2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 42
Author(s):  
Fatkur Rhohman ◽  
Susdi Subandriyo ◽  
Hesti Istiqlaliyah

In automotive, many various modifications are made to improve engine performance. One that is done is to maximize the combustion that occurs in the combustion chamber. By maximizing the ignition system in the combustion process, it is expected to enlarge sparks from spark plugs. One of the components affecting the combustion process is Magnet, serves to generate electricity that will become a high voltage electric current and allow the occurrence of spark jumps on the spark plug. In this study, the independent variable is the modified tregger magnet which is reversed 0.50, to 9.50 and 90. in general there is no significant difference. Fcount value for result on magnetic trigger type = 3.00 <F (0.05; 2.24) = 3.40 (rejected H0) means reversing the 90 and 9.50 magnetic triggers does not significantly influence. In addition, Fcount for 6000, 7000, 8000 rpm engine yield = 1.00 <F (0.05; 2.24) = 3.40 (Rejected H0) means the engine's rotation rate has no significant effect. So there is no effect of fuel consumption on the modified magnetic trigger, nor at rpm 6000, rpm 7000 and rpm 8000.


Author(s):  
Forrest Pommier ◽  
David Lepley ◽  
Greg Beshouri ◽  
Timothy Jacobs

Abstract The natural gas industry has seen a considerable increase in production recently as the world seeks out new sources of economical, reliable, and more environmentally friendly energy. Moving this natural gas requires a complex network of pipelines and compressors, including reciprocating engines, to keep the gas moving. Many of these engines were designed more than 40 years ago and must be retrofit with modern technologies to improve their performance while simultaneously reducing the harmful emissions that they produce. In this study a directed energy ignition system is tested on a two-stroke, single cylinder, natural gas-fired engine. Stability and emissions will be observed throughout a range of spark waveforms for a single speed and load that enables the most fuel-lean operation of the engine. Improving the combustion process of the legacy pipeline engines is a substantial area of opportunity for reducing emissions output. One means of doing so is by improving an engines ability to operate at leaner conditions. To accomplish this, an ignition system needs to be able to send more energy to the spark plug in a controlled manner than a tradition capacitive-discharge ignition system. Controlling the energy is accomplished by optimizing the structure of the waveform or “profile” for each engine design. With this particular directed energy ignition system, spark profiles are able to be configured by changing the duration and amount of current sent to the spark plug. This study investigates a single operating speed and load for 9 different spark energy configurations. Engine operation at these test conditions will allow for emissions and engine performance data, using directed energy, to be analyzed in contrast to capacitive-discharge ignition.


Author(s):  
By R. C. Teasel ◽  
R. D. Miller

The increasing use of spark ignition engines throughout the world has confronted the engine designer with new problems such as air pollution, world-wide temperature extremes, as well as legislative, economic, and human considerations. To meet these situations and improve the competitive position of the spark ignition engine requires considerable research and development effort. This paper reports on work conducted by Champion Spark Plug Company in attempting to evaluate the potential contribution that ignition system and spark plug designs can make towards improving spark ignition engine operation. Almost all the work reported here covers investigations in current large displacement United States passenger car engines. The three main characteristics of the overall ignition systems that are investigated are (1) the available output voltage characteristics of the ignition systems; (2) the effect of the ignition system spark discharge characteristics on engine performance; and (3) the effect of several spark plug design features on engine performance. This investigation shows that the inter-relationship of the ignition system spark discharge characteristics and the spark plug design requires that the overall evaluation must consider the dependence of both items. It also suggests that significant improvements can result in other United States and European engines, through the careful evaluation of ignition system and spark plug designs. The results of this work indicate that a fast rise time, short arc duration system results in reduced spark plug gap growth and better resistance to spark plug fouling. However, the arc duration must not be shorter than a minimum value, or a loss in engine performance may result. High output systems are desirable as they provide a higher voltage reserve to provide longer spark plug life, but the higher voltages that occur with the larger spark plug gaps can stress other ignition system components. The spark plug designs which incorporate a projection of the spark plug gap result in better performance in the engines tested, and possibly even reduce exhaust emissions. Certainly other features which engine manufacturers must consider, which are not discussed in detail here, are costs, durability, and maintenance of the new systems. At least one other important related problem is that of interference.


1972 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard R. Burgett ◽  
Joseph M. Leptich ◽  
Karma V. S. Sangwan

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