Aspects of experimental investigations of laser plug ignition use at spark ignition engine

Bogdan Done,L Slătineanu,P Kyratsis,C.E Panait,M.I Ripanu,G Oancea,V Merticaru,R Ibanescu,M Boca,G Nagit,M Coteata,O Dodun,A.M Mihalache

doi:10.1051/matecconf/201711210008

Abstract

Nowadays, the necessity of pollutant emissions reduction brings to the fore new technologies developed for a better control of the combustion process. Ignition is the process of starting radical reactions until a selfsustaining flame has developed and strongly affects the formation of pollutants. Among the new technologies used for ignition and combustion control, the Laser Plug Ignition system is defined as an innovative technology which overcomes several limitations of conventional spark ignition. Laser ignition technology presents many advantages for engine operating control, engine performance improvement and pollutant emissions reduction. The objective of the paper is the experimental research of the laser ignition used in the spark ignition engine. The laser plug ignition system was mounted on an experimental spark ignition engine and tested at the regime of 90% load and 2800 rpm and dosage, λ = 1. The experimental results present the influence of laser ignition on different engine parameters compared to electric spark ignition. The influence on in-cylinder pressure, heat release rate, engine efficiency and pollutant emissions level is analyzed. Compared to a conventional spark plug, a laser ignition system assures efficient engine operation at lean dosages.

Highlights

The negative effects of environmental pollution with gas emissions produced by the combustion of fossil fuels, an interesting aspect discussed at the 21st Session of the Conference of the Parties from the 2015 Paris Climate Conference in November 2015, brings to the fore more than ever before the necessity of developing new technologies for the control of the combustion process in thermal machines
The present paper shows some aspects of the experimental investigation of laser ignition used on an experimental engine equipped with laser plug ignition system
The experimental research was carried on the SI engine initally equipped with Spark Plug Ignition system (SPI), defined as reference and secondly on the engine equipped with Laser Plug Ignition system (LPI)

Summary

Introduction

The negative effects of environmental pollution with gas emissions produced by the combustion of fossil fuels, an interesting aspect discussed at the 21st Session of the Conference of the Parties from the 2015 Paris Climate Conference in November 2015, brings to the fore more than ever before the necessity of developing new technologies for the control of the combustion process in thermal machines. Laser technology can be used to develop a new Laser Plug Ignition system (LPI) with the ability to control the ignition and combustion processes that will lead to the improvement of engine performance in terms of pollutant emissions and fuel efficiency, [3]. Two-protons or non-resonant photo-dissociation of a molecule absorption in matter can lead to energy release in the form of a single high-energy photon, when the intensity is high. The advantage of this aspect is that the short wavelengths can be used for resonant absorption based on the action of longer wavelength laser light, [5, 6]. Regarding the mechanism of non-resonant breakdown Dearden et al used laser-induced sparks that offer advantage of small size design, but shorter in duration and which operates at higher temperatures [5, 7]

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Conclusion