Comparison of ignition locations in a high swirl engine. [Laser ignition system]
A comparison of the effect of different ignition locations on engine performance in a high swirl, homogeneous charge, spark ignition engine has been made using a focused laser as the ignition source. Using the indicated mean effective pressure (IMEP) as the performance indicater, the ignition location was varied from the center of the cylinder to the cylinder wall by moving the laser focusing lens. Fifty to one-hundred millijoules of laser energy at 0.53 micron wavelength was required to give reliable ignition. The fuel was propane at an equivalence ratio of 0.8 at an engine speed of 1200 rpm. Whereas the spark location for optimum IMEP in a non-swirl engine is typically the center, it was found that IMEP did not vary significantly with ignition location in the high swirl engine. This unexpected result was apparently due to the short burn durations achieved with a very high swirl at time of ignition. Although there appeared to be a slight decrease in induction time using a laser instead of spark plug, no significant difference in the rates of pressure rise were observed when the laser deposition energy was comparable to that of the spark plug.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- EY-76-C-04-0789
- OSTI ID:
- 5777951
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-79-8715; CONF-791048-4
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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