Improvement of Diesel Engine Startability by Ceramic Glow Plug Start System

This paper describes the startability of small swirl chamber diesel engines which is inherently inferior to gasoline engines, particularly in the cold climate operation, and a new start assisting system using silicon nitride ceramic glow plugs which offers the same level of convenience in engine starting as in gasoline fueled vehicles, i.e. elimination of waiting time before engine start, through a remarkable reduction in the plug preheat period.

The paper also details the new features of the ceramic glow plug capable of withstanding high engine temperatures and the abrupt temperature changes overcoming brittleness, a major developmental stumbling block, in comparison with the conventional metal glow plug.