Laser ignition in IC Engines

Laser Fired Futuristic Internal Combustion

Engines

Presented by: Ankush W.

Laser Ignition

o An alternative solution to standard spark plug is the use of pulsed laser, focused to create plasma, representing the laser ignition.

o Laser ignition, or laser-induced ignition, is the process of starting combustion by the stimulus of a laser light source.

Why Laser Ignition?

• Regulations on Nox emissions have continue to force operation of natural gas engines to leaner AFR

• Due to Increased Ignition Coil Energy, Spark Plug Service Life Is Very Low for Natural Gas Engines

• Ignition Sites of Spark Plug Ignition Are Fixed Within the Combustion Chamber

Principle of Laser Ignition

mixture burning

focused laser beam

Plasma

flame kernel

Combustion chamber window

• Core component of laser ignition system.

• Burning free effect occurs

• Singular window test show that optical window can be used efficiently for 1000hrs

Fig 2: Combustion chamber window

Advantages of Laser Ignition

• Arbitrary positioning of the ignition plasma within combustion chamber

• Absence of spark

• No disturbance of the flow-field

• Absence of erosion effects (durability)

• Precise ignition timing

• Simpler regulation of the ignition energy

• Significant reduction in fuel consumption

• Unlike conventional spark ignition, high pressure requires lower energy for breakdown

• Reduction in exhausts by 20% mainly NOX

• easier possibility of multipoint ignition

• shorter ignition delay time and shorter combustion time

Various stages of plasma growth

Nd:YAG laser- wavelength=1064nm; beam dia = 6mm

6 ns

7 ns

8 ns

9 ns

10 ns

11 ns

12 ns

13 ns

14 ns

15 ns

16 ns

18 ns

20 ns

22 ns

25 ns

30 ns

35 ns

40 ns

45 ns

50 ns

60 ns

70 ns

80 ns

Laser Arrangement

Experimental setup

Research enginewith theq-switched Nd:YAG laser system (top)

Laser spark plug

Direct comparisonlaser ignition – spark plug ignition

Laser ignition

Spark plug ignition

Technology status

Ford and the University of Liverpool are working on a new laser ignition system for automobiles.

Ford plans to implement the new technology into its top of the range vehicles within the next few years !!

Conclusion

Plasma had the maximum emission peak 30ns after the laser was firedand laser plasma UV-emission persisted forabout 80 ns

Minimum laser pulse energy (MPE) forignition is decreases withincreasing initial pressure

The time of pressure rise in case of laserignition is shorter than thespark ignition

Challenges

• Propagation of laser pulse through fiber optics (d >300μm)

• Develope a compact, robust and economic laser source

• Concept proven, but no commercial system available yet.

References

• International Journal of Modern Engineering Research

• www.laser.org.uk

• Engineersworldonline.com

• www.ijmer.com

• Wikipedia.com

• C. DeMichelis, “Laser induced gas breakdown: A bibliographical review,” IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics 5(4)

Thank you !!!