Operational characteristics of a lean burn SI-engine: Comparison between plasma-jet and conventional ignition system

Conference · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:6425510

Kupe, J; Wilhelmi, H; Adams, W

Besides the specific demands on mixture formation the main problem of lean-mixture SI engines is to assure the ignition of the air-fuel mixture even if very lean and at all operational conditions. In the scope of extensive research work an analysis was made of the operational behavior of a 4-stroke SI-engine with a newly developed plasma-jet ignition and a conventional transistorized ignition system, respectively. The investigations on the engine were completed by tests in a combustion chamber with methane-air mixture. With plasma-jet ignition the combustion delay and the combustion duration are clearly shorter. The engine tests also revealed a clearly extended lean misfire limit and a reduction of cyclic variations. The NO/sub x/-emissions are only slightly higher than with the transistorized ignition system although a considerable improvement of the brake efficiency can be obtained.

• Research Organization: Institut fur Industrieofenbau und Warmetechnik, RWTH Aachen
• OSTI ID: 6425510
• Report Number(s): CONF-870204-
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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AIR POLLUTION MONITORING
ALKANES
CHALCOGENIDES
COMBUSTION CHAMBERS
COMBUSTION CONTROL
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
CONTROL
DESIGN
ENERGY LOSSES
ENGINES
FUEL INJECTION SYSTEMS
FUEL SUBSTITUTION
FUEL SYSTEMS
FUEL-AIR RATIO
HEAT ENGINES
HEAT LOSSES
HYDROCARBONS
IGNITION
IGNITION SYSTEMS
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
LOSSES
METHANE
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN OXIDES
OPERATION
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERFORMANCE
PLASMA JETS
SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
SPARK IGNITION ENGINES
TRANSISTORS