An investigation of puff-jet ignition in an internal combustion engine fueled by natural gas

Conference · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:5703030

Fisher, P D; Ridley, J D; Pitt, P L; Clements, R M

An electromechanical ignition device, the puff-jet, produces a highly turbulent ignition kernel that reduces ignition delay and burn duration. These properties, which are also exhibited by plasma jet igniters, should enhance the performance of vehicles run exclusively on CNG and facilitate the switch from gasoline to CNG in dual fuel vehicles. Results of preliminary bomb tests of the puff-jet have been confirmed using a motored single cylinder internal combustion engine. Compared with a spark gap ignition system, the puff-jet decreased both the ignition delay and the burn duration of methane charges and extended the lean misfire limit. Output power from the same engine run continuously on lean air-methane mixtures has been compared using the puff-jet system and a conventional spark plug. The puff-jet igniter was observed to increase output power when used under lean mixture conditions.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Victoria
• OSTI ID: 5703030
• Report Number(s): CONF-860263-
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
034000 -- Natural Gas-- Combustion
090110 -- Hydrocarbon Fuels-- Properties-- (1979-1989)
10 SYNTHETIC FUELS
33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
330100* -- Internal Combustion Engines
330800 -- Emission Control-- Alternative Fuels
ABSTRACTS
ALKANES
AUTOMOTIVE FUELS
COMBUSTION PROPERTIES
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DESIGN
DOCUMENT TYPES
DUAL-FUEL ENGINES
ELECTROMECHANICS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENGINES
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUEL-AIR RATIO
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
HEAT ENGINES
HYDROCARBONS
IGNITION QUALITY
IGNITION SYSTEMS
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
LEADING ABSTRACT
LIQUEFIED GASES
LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS
MECHANICS
MEETINGS
METHANE
NATURAL GAS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
PLASMA JETS
POWER GENERATION
SPARK GAPS
TESTING