This content is not included in
your SAE MOBILUS subscription, or you are not logged in.
Plasma-Jet Ignition of Fuel Sprays in a Rapid Compression Machine
Annotation ability available
Sector:
Language:
English
Abstract
Plasma-jet ignition of fuel sprays for direct-injection engine application was evaluated in two phases. In the first phase, data on the penetration characteristics of the plasma puff were obtained as a function of the input electrical energy to the igniter and the igniter cavity dimensions over a range of ambient density conditions. The jet-penetration data were used to evaluate existing plasma-jet models published in the literature. In the next phase, the three-dimensional arrangement of the combustion bowl, injector and spark plug in an engine was simulated by a simplified two-dimensional arrangement in a rapid compression machine. High-speed schlieren photography and pressure-time data were used to compare fuel-spray ignition with plasma jets and results obtained by conventional high-energy ignition (HEI) with a spark plug.
The performance of plasma-jet igniters for the ignition of fuel sprays was found to be comparable to that of a conventional spark-plug/HEI system optimised with respect to spark-plug electrode-tip location. For one plasma-jet igniter cavity dimension, at least three times the input energy of an HEI system was required. The rate of penetration of the plasma jet increased with input electrical energy and characteristic length of the igniter cavity. However, changes in these parameters over a wide range did not significantly affect the spray-ignition process.
Recommended Content
| Technical Paper | Modeling and Control of Electromechanical Valve Actuator |
| Technical Paper | Pulsed Plasma lgnitor for Internal Combustion Engines |
| Technical Paper | Performance of a Plasma Jet Igniter |
Authors
Citation
Solomon, A., "Plasma-Jet Ignition of Fuel Sprays in a Rapid Compression Machine," SAE Technical Paper 880205, 1988, https://doi.org/10.4271/880205.Also In
References
- Wood C. D. “Unthrottled Open-Chamber Stratified Charge Engines,” SAE Paper 780341 1978
- Hussmann A. W. Kahoun F. Taylor R. A. “Charge Stratification by Fuel Injection into Swirling Air,” SAE Paper 598A 1962
- Bergin S. P. Bolt J. A. “A Photographic Study of Open-Chamber Stratified-Charge Combustion in a Constant-Volume Bomb,” Proc. Instn. Mech. Engrs., Paper C258/76 147 156 1976
- Wong V. W. Rife J. M. Martin M. K. “Experiments in Stratified Combustion with a Rapid Compression Machine,” SAE Transactions 87 2429 2441 1978
- Solomon A. S. P. “A Photographic Study of Fuel Spray Ignition in a Rapid Compression Machine,” SAE Paper 860065 1986
- Giovanetti A. J. Ekchian J. A. Heywood J. B. Fort E. F. “Analysis of Hydrocrbon Emissions Mechanisms in a Direct Injection Spark-Ignition Engine,” SAE Paper 830587 1983
- Clements R. M. Smy P. R. Dale J. D. “An Experimental Study of the Ejection Mechanism for Typical Plasma Jet Igniters,” Combustion and Flame 42 287 295 1981
- Smy P. R. Clements R. M. Simeoni D. Topham D. R. “Plasma Expulsion from the Plasma Jet Igniter,” J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 15 2227 2239 1982
- Smy P. R. Clements R. M. Dale J. D. Simeoni D. Topham D. R. “Efficiency and Erosion Characteristics of Plasma Jet Igniters,” J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 16 783 791 1983
- Topham D. R. Clements R. M. Smy P. R. “Turbulent Mixing in a Pulsed Plasma-Jet Exhaust,” J. Fluid Mechanics 148 207 224 1984
- Smy P. R. Santiago J. Way-Nee D. “Momentum Imparted by Plasma Igniters to the Surrounding Gas,” J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 18 827 833 1985
- Topham D. R. Clements R. M. Ridley J. D. Smy P. R. “The Initiation of Combustion by a Hot Turbulent Mixing Element,” Combust. Sci. and Tech. 50 41 60 1986
- Oppenheim A. K. Teichman K. Hom K. Stewart H. E. “Jet Ignition of an Ultra Lean Mixture,” SAE Paper 780637 1978
- Edwards C. F. Oppenheim A. K. Dale J. D. “A Comparative Study of Plasma Ignition Systems,” SAE Paper 830479 1983
- Edwards C. F. Stewart H. E. Oppenheim A. K. “A Photographic Study of Plasma Ignition Systems,” SAE Paper 850077 1985
- Cavolowsky J. A. Faris D. W. Oppenheim A. K. “Formation of a Plasma Puff,” SAE Paper 870609 1987
- Orrin J. E. Vince I. M. Weinberg F. J. “A Study of Plasma Jet Ignition Mechanisms,” Eighteenth Symposium (International) on Combustion Combustion Institute Pittsburgh 1755 1765 1981
- Weinberg F. J. “Plasma Jets in Combustion,” Proc. Instn. Mech. Engrs., Paper C45/83 65 72 1983
- Vince I. M. Vovelle C. Weinberg F. J. “The Effect of Plasma Jet Ignition on Flame Propagation and Sooting at the Rich Limit of Flammability,” Combustion and Flame 56 105 112 1984
- Sloane T. M. Ratcliffe J. W. Dobosiu-Halalai I. “Effects of Plasma Chemistry and Charge Stratification in Plasma Jet Ignition,” Combust. Sci. and Tech. 50 61 77 1986
- Asik J. R. Piatkowski P. Foucher M. J. Rado W. G. “Design of a Plasma Jet Ignition System for Automotive Application,” SAE Paper 770355 1977
- Cetegen B. Teichman K. Y. Weinberg F. J. Oppenheim A. K. “Performance of a Plasma Jet Igniter,” SAE Paper 800042 1980
- Grant J. F. Marram E. P. McIlwain M. E. “Optimization of Plasma Jet Ignition Properties: Ignition of Lean-Quiescent Mixtures of Propane,” Combust. Sci. and Tech. 30 171 184 1983
- Kupe J. Wilhelmi H. Adams W. “Operational Characteristics of a Lean Burn SI-Engine: Comparison Between Plasma-Jet and Conventional Ignition System,” SAE Paper 870608 1987
- Scorer R. S. Environmental Aerodynamics John Wiley and Sons London 1978
- Richards J. M. “Puff Motions in Unstratified Surroundings,” J. of Fluid Mechanics 21 97 106 1965
- Escudier M. P. Maxworthy T. “On the Motion of Turbulent Thermals,” J. of Fluid Mechanics 61 541 552 1973