CORONA DISCHARGE IGNITION FOR ADVANCED STATIONARY NATURAL GAS ENGINES
An ignition source was constructed that is capable of producing a pulsed corona discharge for the purpose of igniting mixtures in a test chamber. This corona generator is adaptable for use as the ignition source for one cylinder on a test engine. The first tests were performed in a cylindrical shaped chamber to study the characteristics of the corona and analyze various electrode geometries. Next a test chamber was constructed that closely represented the dimensions of the combustion chamber of the test engine at USC. Combustion tests were performed in this chamber and various electrode diameters and geometries were tested. The data acquisition and control system hardware for the USC engine lab was updated with new equipment. New software was also developed to perform the engine control and data acquisition functions. Work is underway to design a corona electrode that will fit in the new test engine and be capable igniting the mixture in one cylinder at first and eventually in all four cylinders. A test engine was purchased for the project that has two spark plug ports per cylinder. With this configuration it will be possible to switch between corona ignition and conventional spark plug ignition without making any mechanical modifications.
- Research Organization:
- University of Southern California (US)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- (US)
- DOE Contract Number:
- FC26-02NT41336
- OSTI ID:
- 822386
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: 12 Sep 2003
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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