This content is not included in
your SAE MOBILUS subscription, or you are not logged in.
Spark Discharge Characteristics for Varying Spark Plug Geometries and Gas Compositions
Technical Paper
2022-01-0437
ISSN: 0148-7191, e-ISSN: 2688-3627
Annotation ability available
Sector:
Language:
English
Abstract
Spark discharge properties were studied and characterized for varying gas compositions and spark plug geometries using a spark calorimeter and constant volume optical vessel. Two different 18 mm natural gas engine spark plugs were used in the experiments. All measurements were recorded under quiescent conditions and with a spark gap of 0.30 mm. The spark plug calorimeter was used for measuring thermal energy deposition to the gas for gas compositions of nitrogen, a stoichiometric mixture of nitrogen and methane, a stoichiometric mixture of nitrogen and methane diluted with 30% carbon dioxide by volume, and for air. Other measurements of interest included breakdown voltage, electrical energy delivered to the spark gap, electrical-to-thermal energy conversion efficiency, and spark duration, for pressures up to 28 bar at 300 K. The optical vessel was used for the combusting mixture of stoichiometric air and methane at pressures up to 28 bar. For these combusting experiments, thermal energy deposition was unable to be measured. All measurements were performed on both an 18 mm natural gas engine spark plug with a J-shaped ground strap and an 18 mm natural gas engine spark plug with four individual ground straps, uniformly distributed around the plug’s center electrode. Experiments showed consistently higher thermal energy deposition and electrical-to-thermal energy conversion efficiency for the J-shaped plug compared to the four-ground strap plug. Experiments also showed significant increases in breakdown voltage for air compared to nitrogen or nitrogen-based mixtures.
Recommended Content
Authors
Topic
Citation
Tambasco, C., Hall, M., and Matthews, R., "Spark Discharge Characteristics for Varying Spark Plug Geometries and Gas Compositions," SAE Technical Paper 2022-01-0437, 2022, https://doi.org/10.4271/2022-01-0437.Also In
References
- Cho , H.M. and He , B.-Q. Spark Ignition Natural Gas Engines - A Review Energy Convers Manag 48 2 2007 608e18
- Meek , N.F. Electrical Breakdown of Gases London, UK Oxford at the Clarendon Press 1953
- Pashley , N. , Stone , R. , and Roberts , G. Ignition System Measurement Techniques and Correlations for Breakdown and Arc Voltages and Currents SAE Technical Paper 2000-01-0245 2000 https://doi.org/10.4271/2000-01-0245
- Huang , S. et al. J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 53 2020 045501
- Roth , W. , Guest , P.G. , Elbe , G. , and Lewis , B. Heat Generation by Electric Sparks and Rate of Heat Loss to the Spark Electrodes J. Chem. Phys. 19 1951 1530 1535
- Teets , R. and Sell , J. Calorimetry of Ignition Sparks SAE Technical Paper 880204 1988 https://doi.org/10.4271/880204
- Abidin , Z. and Chadwell , C. Parametric Study and Secondary Circuit Model Calibration Using Spark Calorimeter Testing SAE Technical Paper 2015-01-0778 2015 https://doi.org/10.4271/2015-01-0778
- Franke , A. and Reinmann , R. Calorimetric Characterization of Commercial Ignition Systems SAE Technical Paper 2000-01-0548 2000 https://doi.org/10.4271/2000-01-0548
- Kim , K. , Hall , M.J. , Wilson , P.S. , and Matthews , R.D. Arc-Phase Spark Plug Energy Deposition Characteristics Measured Using a Spark Plug Calorimeter Based on Differential Pressure Measurement Energies 13 2020 3550 10.3390/en13143550
- Kim , K. , Tambasco , C. , Hall , M. , and Matthews , R. Experimental and Modeling Study of Spark Plug Electrode Heat Transfer and Thermal Energy Deposition SAE Technical Paper 2021-01-0480 2021 https://doi.org/10.4271/2021-01-0480
- Tambasco , C. , Li , D. , Hall , M. , and Matthews , R. Spark Ignition Discharge Characteristics under Quiescent Conditions and with Convective Flows SAE Technical Paper 2021-01-1157 2021 https://doi.org/10.4271/2021-01-1157
- Fridman , A. and Kennedy , L.A. Plasma Physics and Engineering New York Taylor & Francis 2004