Comments on: Laser Ignition System Eliminates Spark Plugs – Internal Combusion Engines Continue to Evolve

By: Fábio

Fábio — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:12:09 +0000

Proceeds as if the functioning of the start of combustion?
As the beam will start to spark and cause the explosion?

By: Jimbo

Jimbo — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 09:01:51 +0000

@ Justin Willman,

A little of topic here, but I think the 800cc MotoGP is way more entertaining… The lean angle is fantastic and the speed is still ridiculous

@ the rest:

As far as a laser ignition source goes, I’m reserving my opinion, I’m fairly sure that a group dedicated to making it work efficiently have managed a better system than any single one of us could think up. It’ll be fun finding out!

-Jimbo

By: PaulN

PaulN — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 20:43:20 +0000

I read this and slapped myself on the forehead. Of course! It seems so obvious that this would work. Lasers are pretty efficient, powerful, reliable, and not that expensive given what combustion calls for. There is no chance of the flame blowing out, you can put them anywhere in the head, this is a no brainer. I wonder why it took so long to come out.

By: Justin Willman

Justin Willman — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 22:42:34 +0000

The kneeslider always answers my questions!

15th of July i looked at the park plug out of a 1098r Ducati and looked at a nylon magnetic strip and said to my self the spark plug is out of date.With new valve angles the spark plug restricts modern port designs. This technoligy or other ignition alternatives will be used and should last the life of the engine.Think about the alternative room now for valve operation can’t wait to see the power gains.
Moto Gp should never be restricted in capacity but should be restricted to a fuel
capacity limit! this technoligy shows to me this formula will work.A company should be unrestricted in capacity to consume a given volume of fuel. Most people would agree the 1000 motogp bikes where more entertaining to watch!

By: rafe03

rafe03 — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 15:44:06 +0000

Ford’s not the only ones looking at Laser Ignition. Technische Unversität München & General Electric, Garching, Germany have been busy as well.

Go see:– “Experimental Study on Laser-Induced Ignition of Swirl-Stabilized Kerosene”

Flameshttp://scitation.aip.org/getabs/servlet/GetabsServlet?prog=normal&id=JETPEZ000131000002021501000001&idtype=cvips&gifs=yes

J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power — March 2009 — Volume 131, Issue 2, 021501 (8 pages)
DOI:10.1115/1.2981181 [Hope I pasted all this in correctly. If not, it's in the ASME Digital Library]

Just a funny idea; what if a Diesel engine were to have it’s compression ratio lowered by a point or 2 to prevent autoignition. Install a laser system that could focus on many of the most efficient locations for each & any different load conditions. Then use the laser system to provide the final energy to initiate the flame or flames if more than one would help optimize the burn, it’s rate & it’s pattern. Multi-kernels of ignition could reduce the burn rate problem by reducing the burn distance.

GenWaylaid above seems to have been seriously thinking along some other interesting lines. Perhaps a laser system could allow the use of higher energy fuels (like Diesel or kerosene or ?) that have a volatility factor too low to be ignited by a spark.

How about using lasers to “tune” the atomization of the fuel particles for best use under varying load conditions! Maybe suppress the formation of Nitrides that form smog!

The Age of the Infernal Combustion Engine is not over yet!

Ah Well. Too soon old, too late smart!