Laser Ignited Internal Combustion Engine - An Experimental Study

Preliminary test results are presented for an S.I. engine which used a focused laser beam and conventional spark ignition as ignition sources. The results show that for a steady running single-cylinder engine with MBT spark timing and fixed throttle position, engine performance and efficiency are improved, extension of the lean limit of operation by 5 air-fuel ratios is possible, and more NO is produced with laser ignition. The effects of EGR are also examined. The CO and HC emissions are essentially the same.

With the laser, the spark location was found to have little effect on performance except when it was moved near the combustion chamber wall. The minimum laser pulse energy required for steady engine operation seems to be dictated by the minimum energy required to achieve breakdown of the laser pulse in air at the same pressure.