This document discusses the implementation and impact of a laser ignition system (LIS) on internal combustion engines. It begins by explaining that advances are needed in combustion and after-treatment to reduce the environmental impact of continued IC engine use. It then introduces LIS as an alternative ignition source that could provide benefits over conventional spark plugs like improved lean burn capability and system flexibility. The rest of the document details the components, construction, working, experiments conducted using LIS, advantages like improved combustion and reduced emissions, disadvantages like high costs, and applications and future scope of LIS. It concludes that LIS allows flexible ignition location and has the potential to significantly reduce fuel consumption and exhaust emissions.
2. • It's widely accepted that the internal combustion engines will continue
to power our vehicles. Hence, as the global mobilization of people and
goods increases, advances in combustion and after-treatment are needed
to reduce the environmental impact of the continued use of IC engine
vehicles.
• New engines are becoming increasingly complex, with advanced
combustion mechanisms that burn an increasing variety of fuels to meet
future goals on performance, fuel economy and emissions.
• One of the alternative is the laser ignition system (LIS) being described
here. Compared to a conventional spark plug, a LIS should be a
favorable ignition source in terms of lean burn characteristics and
system flexibility. So, in this seminar we'll be discussing the
implementation and impact of LIS on IC engines.
INTRODUCTION
3. What is laser?
A laser is a device that emits electromagnetic radiation through a process
of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of photons. The
term ‘laser’ is an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of
Radiation.
How does a laser work?
Lasers are monochromatic, It all starts with the electrons. By sending energy
to a system we can achieve what is known as population inversion. This
means that there are more electrons in the excited states than those in the
lower energy states. As one electron releases energy (a photon), the other
electrons strangely seem to communicate with each other and also begin
releasing photons.
4. Types of laser
There are four types of lasers they are as following:
1. Chemical laser: Hydrogen fluoride laser (2700-2900 nm)
2. Exclimer laser: Excimer lasers produce ultraviolet light
3. Solid-state laser: neodymium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet (YAG)
Nd:YAG Lasers can produce high powers in the infrared spectrum at 1064
4. Semiconductor laser: Laser diodes produce wavelengths from 405 nm to
1550 nm. Low power laser diodes are used in laser pointers, laser printers,
and CD/DVD players.
Current spark ignition system
5. COMPONENTS OF LASER IGNITION ENGINE
• Power Source
• Combustion Chamber Windows
• Optic Fiber Wire
• Focusing unit
• Laser Spark Plug
6. CONSTRUCTION AND WORKING OF LASER IGNITION SYSTEM
Ignition in combustion chamber
Convex lens
Laser beam
Construction
9. • Location of spark plug is flexible as it does not require shielding from immense
heat and fuel spray and focal point can be made anywhere in the combustion
chamber from any point It is possible to ignite inside the fuel spray as there is no
physical component at ignition location.
• It does not require maintenance to remove carbon deposits because of its self-
cleaning property.
• Leaner mixtures can be burned as fuel ignition inside combustion chamber
• High pressure and temperature does not affect the performance allowing the use
of high compression ratios.
• Lasers promise less pollution
• The laser also produces more stable combustion so you need to put less fuel into
the cylinder, therefore increasing efficiency.
• Optical wire and laser setup is much smaller than the current sparkplug model,
allowing for different design opportunities.
• Lasers will reduce erosion.
• Easier possibility of multipoint ignition.
• Shorter ignition delay time and shorter combustion time.
• Absence of quenching effects by the spark plug electrodes.
• Lasers can reflect back from inside the cylinders relaying information such as fuel
type and level of ignition creating optimum performance.
ADVANTAGES
10. DISADVANTAGES
• high system costs
• concept proven, but no commercial system available in market yet.
• Laser induced optical damage
11. • According to the latest international reports, Mazda’s upcoming rotary
sports car could feature laser ignition technology. This would replace the
spark plug ignition system which is currently applied to every petrol car
on the market. It’s also a setup a revolution in spark plug which has been
not change around since 1860
• Ford motor
APPLICATION
12. • Cost
• Concept proven, but no commercial system yet available.
• Stability of optical window
• Beam Delivery/Laser induced optical damage
• Particle Deposits
• Intelligent control
• Laser Distribution
• Multiple pulse ignition
• Multiple point ignition
FUTURE SCOPE
13. CONCLUSION
Laser ignition system allows almost free choice of the ignition location
within the combustion chamber, even inside the fuel spray. Significant
reductions in fuel consumption as well as reductions of exhaust gases show
the potential of the laser ignition process. Minimum ignition energy is
mainly determined by the necessary “self-cleaning” mechanism at the beam
entrance window from combustion deposits and not by engine related
parameters. No differences of the laser ignition process could be found at
different laser wavelengths.
Although the laser will need to fire more than 50 times per /second to
produce 3000 RPM, it will require less power than current spark plugs. The
lasers can also reflect back from inside the cylinders to relay information
based on fuel type used and the level of ignition, enabling cars to readjust the
quantities of air and fuel for optimum performance.
14. REFERENCES
[1] J. Ma, D. Alexander, and D. Poulain, “Laser spark ignition and combustion characteristics
of methane-air
mixtures,” Combustion and Flame, pp. 492–506, 1998
[2] J. Syage, E. Fournier, R. Rianda, and R. Cohn,“Dynamics of flame propagation using
laser-induced spark initiation: Ignition energy measurements,” Journal of Applied Physics,
pp. 1499–1507, 1988.
[3] M. Gower, “ laser-induced breakdown of gases,” Opt.Commune, pp.43–45, 1981.
[4] R. Hill, “Ignition-delay times in laser initiated combustion,” Applied Optics, pp. 2239–
2242, 1981.
[5] T. Huges, Plasma and laser light, Adam Hilger, Bristol,1975.
[6] Research paper of International Journal of Modern Engineering Research by Nitish
Sharma Mechanical Dept. K L University