Abstract
The ignition sparks provided by the conventional spark plug (CSP) do not always ensure a fast and complete combustion of the hydrocarbon–air mixture. For this reason, we offer a new type of spark plug with two simultaneous discharges generated by a pulsed high voltage–power supply. First, we present results concerning geometrical and electrical characteristics of plasmas produced in air and in engine combustion chamber. A more important volume of plasma is highlighted. The larger surface of interaction of plasma with the air-to-fuel mixture promotes the initiation of a greater number of chemical reactions thus increases the rate of propagation of the combustion. In addition, for long pulse durations the energy delivered by the double spark plug (DSP) to the discharge is 20% higher, as compared to a CSP. The current rise rate is more important for the DSP, which allows better ionization of the mixture. Afterwards, we present a study of two four-strokes engines ignited by this DSP, one powered with gasoline and the second one with propane. The pressure into the cylinder, measured as a function of the crankshaft angle, allowed to compute the IMEP, COVIMEP, and PPP, for both tested engines. In the case of the gasoline engine, when the ignition and flame development conditions are difficult—a high ignition angle was considered—the DSP can offer an almost 3.5 times better operation stability (considering the coefficient of variation of the indicated mean effective pressure as main indicator) and a faster development of the combustion flame (defined by the means of the pressure peak position). A study was also performed as a function of the equivalence ratio for the propane-powered engine, which confirmed the results regarding the DSP performances obtained with the first engine. In addition, this study highlighted that for very lean mixtures, the DSP can provide a better stability in operation (COVIMEP, COVPPP) is assured even for equivalence ratios in the range of 0.65, where the use of CSPs involves misfires and very high engine vibrations.
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
- BDC:
-
Bottom Dead Center (lower limit of piston motion)
- CAD:
-
Crank Angle Degree
- CAD ATDC:
-
Crank Angle Degree After Top Dead Center
- COV IMEP :
-
Coefficient Of Variation of IMEP
- COV PPP :
-
Coefficient Of Variation of PPP
- COV speed :
-
Coefficient Of Variation of engine speed
- CSP:
-
Conventional Spark Plug
- DOI:
-
Duration Of Injection
- DSP:
-
Double Spark Plug
- EGR:
-
Exhaust Gas Recirculation
- HV:
-
High Voltage
- ICE:
-
Internal Combustion Engine
- IMEP:
-
Indicated Mean Effective Pressure
- MBF:
-
Mass Burned Fraction
- P :
-
In-cylinder Pressure
- P i :
-
Indicated power
- P max :
-
Maximum Pressure
- PPP:
-
Pressure Peak Position
- rpm:
-
Revolutions Per Minute
- SI:
-
Spark Ignition
- TDC:
-
Top Dead Center (upper limit of piston motion)
- T i :
-
Indicated Torque
- TTL:
-
Transistor–Transistor Logic
- U b :
-
Breakdown voltage
- V d :
-
Displaced Volume in the cylinder
- Φ :
-
Equivalence ratio
References
Docquier N, Cande S (2002) Combustion control and sensors: a review. Prog Energy Combust Sci 28:107–150
Trapy J (2000) Moteur à allumage commandé. In: Techniques de l’Ingénieur, vol BM 2 540
Mille D (2003) Downsizing moteurs essence: enjeux, perspectives. In: Journée d’études Groupe Motopropulseur, INSA de Rouen
Le downsizing ou l’avenir du moteur thermique. On http://mobilite-durable.org/
Jeanne B (2004) Etude par Diagnostics Optiques de l’Impact d’une Très Haute Pression d’Injection sur le Fonctionnement d’un Moteur à Injection Directe Essence. Ph.D. thesis, University of Rouen
Hirose K, Abe S, Takaoka T (1997) The hybrid system high expansion gasoline engine. In: Academic Lecture Collection 975—no. 10 9739552, The Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan, Inc (JSAE)
Glassman I (1996) Combustion, vol 3. Academic Press, New York
Amirante R, Distaso E, Di Iorio S, Sementa P, Tamburrano P, Vaglieco BM, Reitz RD (2017) Effects of natural gas composition on performance and regulated, greenhouse gas and particulate emissions in spark-ignition engines. Energy Convers Manag 143:338–347. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2017.04.016
Cho HM, He B-Q (2007) Spark ignition natural gas engines—a review. Energy Convers Manag 48:608–618. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2006.05.023
Amirante R, Distaso E, Tamburrano P, Reitz RD (2017) Laminar flame speed correlations for methane, ethane, propane and their mixtures, and natural gas and gasoline for spark-ignition engine simulations. Int J Engine Res 18(9):951–970. https://doi.org/10.1177/1468087417720018
Dale JD, Checkel MD, Smy P (1997) Application of high energy ignition systems to engines. Prog Energy Combust Sci 23:379–398
Edwards CF, Oppenheim AK, Dale JD (1983) A comparative study of plasma ignition systems. SAE Technical Paper no. 830479
Nakamura N, Kobayashi T, Hanaoka M, Takagi N (1983) A new platinum tipped spark plug extends the lean misfire limit and useful life. SAE Technical Paper no. 830480
Osamura H, Abe N (1999) Development of new iridium alloy for spark plug electrodes. SAE Technical Paper no. 01-0796
Hori T, Shibata M, Okabe S, Hashizume K (2003) Super ignition spark plug with fine center & ground electrodes. SAE Technical Paper no. 01-0404
Lenk M, Podiak R (1988) Copper cored ground electrode spark plug design. SAE Technical Paper no. 881777
Lee MJ, Grimes DA, Boehler JT, Sparrow J, Flavin C (2000) A study of the effects of spark plug electrode design on 4-cycles spark ignition engine performance. SAE Technical Paper no. 01-1210
Abdel-Rehim A (2013) Impact of spark plug number of ground electrodes on engine stability. Ain Shams Eng J 4(2):307–316
Timo G et al (2011) Spark plug i.e. multi-spark plug, has mass electrodes comprising capacity with finite conductivity so that successive ignition sparks lies at different mass electrodes, and control device controlling ignition coil. Patent DE102009036732
Mate J-L (1984) Ignition coil control device for regulating the optimal condition time for an internal combustion engine. US Patent 4469081
Hnatiuc B, Hnatiuc E, Pellerin S, Chapelle J (2006) Experimental analysis of a double spark ignition system. Czech J Phys 56(8):851–867
Ronney P, Gundersen M (2001) Corona discharge ignition for advanced stationary natural gas engines. University of Southern California, Los Angeles
Dale JD, Smy PR, Clements RM (1978) Laser ignited internal combustion engine—an experimental study. Transactions SAE Paper 780/329, vol 82, no 2, pp 1539–1548
Mariani A, Foucher F (2014) Radio frequency spark plug: an ignition system for modern internal combustion engines. Appl Energy 122:151–161
Hnatiuc B, Pellerin S, Hnatiuc E, Burlica R, Cerqueira N, Astanei D (2011) Spectroscopic diagnostic of transient plasma produced by a spark plug. Romanian J Phys 56-S1(17):109–113
Hnatiuc B, Astanei D, Pellerin S, Cerqueira N, Hnatiuc M (2014) Diagnostic of plasma produced by a spark plug at atmospheric pressure: reduced electric field and rotational—vibrational temperatures. Contrib Plasma Phys J 54(8):712–723. https://doi.org/10.1002/ctpp.201300059
Han SB (2001) Investigation of cyclic variations of IMEP under idling operation in spark ignition engines. KSME Int J 15(1):81–87
Dodd et al R (2005) Laser ignition of an IC test engine using an Nd:YAG laser and the effect of key laser parameters on engine combustion performance. In: Advanced Laser Applications Conference and Exposition (ALAC)
Pulkrabek WW (2002) Engineering fundamentals of the internal combustion engine, 2nd edn. Prentice Hall, New York
Chang WC (2002) An improved method of investigation of combustion parameters in a natural gas fueled SI engine with EGR and H2 as additives. Ph.D. thesis, University of Birmingham
Astanei D, Faubert F, Pellerin S, Hnatiuc B, Wartel M (2018) A new spark plug to improve the performances of combustion engines: study and analysis of unburned exhaust gases. Plasma Chem Plasma Process 38(5):1115–1132. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11090-018-9903-5
Activity report from the division of Combustion Physics 1999–2000, Department of Physics at Lund Institute of Technology, Lund, Sweden. http://www.forbrf.lth.se/fileadmin/forbrf/Documents/Activity_reports/Activity_report_1999-2000.pdf
Astanei D, Hnatiuc B (2010) Surse de alimentare in impulsuri folosite pentru descarcari electrice de tip plasma rece. In: Simpozionul Stiintific National Studentesc ElStudIS, 2nd edn, Iasi, Romania, pp 9–14
Photron. https://photron.com/fastcam-sa2/. Accessed Oct 2018
DELTALAB EX1000. https://www.deltalab-smt.com/fr/genie-industriel/automatisme-et-electrotechnique/ex1000/banc-dessai-de-moteur-a-essence-monocylindre_ca186.html. Accessed Oct 2018
https://www.kistler.com/en/product/type-611xc/?application=7. Accessed Oct 2018
Ratiu S, Popa GN, Alexa V (2009) Monitoring of the pressure inside the cylinder for an internal-combustion engine. WSEAS Trans Circuits Syst 8(1):101–114
Mariani A, Foucher F, Moreau B (2013) The effects of a radio frequency ignition system on the efficiency and the exhaust emissions of a spark-ignition engine. SAE Int. https://doi.org/10.4271/2013-24-0053
Zhou J (2013) Etude de l’effet du taux d’oxygene sur la combustion en moteur a allumage commande suralimente. Ph.D. thesis, Orleans University
Karim GA (1983) Some considerations of the safety of methane, (GNG), as an automotive fuel—comparison with gasoline, propane and hydrogen operation. SAE Technical Paper no. 830267
Soberanis MAE, Fernandez AM (2010) A review on the technical adaptations for internal combustion engines to operate with gas/hydrogen mixtures. Int J Hydrogen Energy 35(21):12134–12140
Bayraktar H, Durgun O (2005) Investigating the effects of LPG on spark ignition engine combustion and performance. Energy Convers Manag 46:2317–2333
Astanei D (2014) Improving the performances of the combustion engines by improving the ignition system. Ph.D. thesis, Technical University of Iasi (Romania)/University of Orléans (France)
Klimstra J (1985) The optimum combustion phasing angle—a convenient engine tuning criterion. SAE Technical Paper 852090. https://doi.org/10.4271/852090
Bychkov YI, Yampolskaya SA, Yastremsky AG (2003) Effect of rate of current rise on the discharge uniformity: a two-dimensional simulation. In: The 30th international conference on plasma science—IEEE Explore, Jeju, South Korea
Astanei D, Munteanu F, Nemes C, Pellerin S, Hnatiuc B (2015) Electrical diagnostic of high voltage discharges produced in a new spark-plug. In: Proceedings of 13th IEEE international conference on engineering modern electric systems (EMES 2015), pp 1–4, Oradeav, Romania, June 11–12. https://doi.org/10.1109/emes.2015.715838800001
Zaepffel C (2008) Etude expérimentale et numérique d’une décharge électrique appliquée à l’allumage d’un milieu réactif. Ph.D. thesis, Orleans University—GREMI Laboratory
Astanei D, Pellerin S, Hnatiuc B, Faubert F, Cerqueira N, Ursache M (2013) Etude d’une bougie à double étincelle pour la combustion propre. Journal National de la Recherche dans les IUT 4:51–63
Nielsen L, Eriksson L (1998) An ion-sense engine-fine-tuner. IEEE Control Syst Mag 18(8):43–52
Eriksson L (1999) Spark advance modeling and control. Ph.D. thesis, Linköping University, Sweden
Combustion analysis basics: an overview of measurements, methods and calculation used in combustion analysis. TSI Incorporated, Shoreview. http://dl.icdst.org/pdfs/files/0446bcb915db6a23f2c60dbe534ac99d.pdf
Acknowledgement
This work was a part of an international cotutelle agreement between “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi, Romania and Orléans University, France and financially supported by AUF (Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie). Part of this work was realized with the support of COMPETE project nr. 9PFE/2018, financed by the Romanian Government. The authors would like thank Prof. Fabrice Foucher and Dr. Antonio Mariani, for giving the opportunity to test the proposed ignition system on engine bench in the PRISME Laboratory—Polytech Orleans.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Astanei, D., Faubert, F., Pellerin, S. et al. Evaluation of the Efficiency of a Double Spark Plug to Improve the Performances of Combustion Engines: Pressure Measurement and Plasma Investigations. Plasma Chem Plasma Process 40, 283–308 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11090-019-10044-3
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11090-019-10044-3