Electrical and Optical Characterization Methodologies for Advanced Spark Ignition

Due to the high transiency and high voltage characteristics of spark ignition, precise measurements are in demand for efficient ignition in future clean combustion engines. The practical challenges of SI systems arise as the gaseous substances vary extensively in density, flow, and temperature. In this paper, a typical transistor coil ignition system with a current management module maintains the transient discharge condition for more credible measurements. Suitable apparatus with FPGA multi-task control systems are established to effectively control and stabilize the discharge current level and duration. The electrical waveforms and spark plasma patterns are correlated, via concurrent electric probing and shadowgraph imaging, under quiescent and flow conditions. The multi-task FPGA provides synchronization of ignition control and data acquisition. The empirical setup and analyzing methods of this work provide essential guidance for facilitating broader innovations in spark ignition, and for advancing the clean and efficient combustion in automotive and aviation engines.

Analysis of Hull Shape Impact on Energy Consumption in an Electric Port Tugboat

The trend to replace internal combustion engines with electric zero-emission drives, visible in the automotive industry, also exists in the shipbuilding industry. In contrary to land vehicles, the requirements for the electric propulsion system of tugs are much greater, which combined with the limited space and energy on board, makes any amount of energy valuable. Strategic changes in the policy of many countries, such as the “Fit for 55” package, introduce plans to significantly reduce CO2 emissions, which favors the development of alternative drives and their introduction to new areas of operation. This article presents that it is possible to reduce the amount of energy an electric tug spends for movement by applying the Particle Swarm Optimization method to modify the shape of its hull. A statistical analysis of public data was performed to determine the speed profiles of actual port tugs. The Van Oortmerssen method was used to determine the hull resistances of the proposed tug and the impact of the hull shape modification sets on reducing these resistances. Based on the six obtained speed profiles, it was determined that one of the tested variants of modifications made it possible to reduce energy consumption on average by 2.12%, to even 3.87% for one of the profiles, and that some modifications increase energy consumption by even 6.59%.

Applications of the continuously rotating detonation to combustion engines at the Łukasiewicz - Institute of Aviation

In the paper short information about advantages of introduction of detonation combustion to propulsion systems is briefly discussed and then research conducted at the Łukasiewicz-Institute of Aviation on development of the rotating detonation engines (RDE) is presented. Special attention is focused on continuously rotating detonation (CRD), since it offers significant advantages over pulsed detonation (PD). Basic aspects of initiation and stability of the CRD are discussed. Examples of applications of the CRD to gas turbine and rocket engines are presented and a combine cycle engine utilizing CRD are also evaluated. The world's first rocket flight powered by liquid propellant detonation engine is also described.