Since its humble beginnings in the 19th century, the sparkplug has been a mainstay of the combustion engine.
Some engineers at Ford, in collaboration with Liverpool University researchers have decided to modernize spark plug technology. Since we’re in the 21st century, that replacement is going to be lasers.
Yes, I said lasers.
Ford is currently testing a new laser ignition system for implementation on their high end cars in a few model years. This system is designed to increase the efficiency of the automotive ignition system. Since laser beams can be split into multiple beams, it would be possible for the laser ignition system to create multiple points of ignition.
Increasing the number of ignition points also enable the engine to start in cold and damp conditions, as well as providing for a more complete combustion of the fuel mixture, increasing fuel efficiencies.
Dr Tom Shenton, a researcher at Liverpool University leading the project, said:
“Lasers can be focused and split into multiple beams to give multiple ignition points, which means it can give a far better chance of ignition. This can really improve the performance of the engine when it is cold, as this is the time when around 80 per cent of the exhaust emissions are produced and the engine is at is least efficient.
“The laser also produces more stable combustion so you need to put less fuel into the cylinder.”
In the new laser ignition system, the car battery powers a laser which is directed into the engine cylinders by optical fibers and special lenses. Liverpool researchers claim that the laser will also require less power than traditional spark plugs, even though the laser system will need to fire more than 50 times per second to produce 3000 RPM.
The promise of significant fuel savings, as well as potentially developing alternative fuel mixes that would be ignitable thanks to this technology have sufficiently piqued the interest of the UK’s Carbon Trust for them to award this project a £200,000 grant.
Image Credit – AndrewEick via flickr.com on a Creative Commons license
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Interesting. Aftermarket ignition systems have been using MSD (Multiple Spark Discharge) for years now.
The benefits have proven to be what is claimed for the laser. If the laser costs are less, then it would be a good deal.
Interesting. Aftermarket ignition systems have been using MSD (Multiple Spark Discharge) for years now.
The benefits have proven to be what is claimed for the laser. If the laser costs are less, then it would be a good deal.
Does anybody here have any idea what “alternative fuel mix” would be ignitable with a laser that a spark plug cannot set off? Is the idea that a laser would allow a normal engine to run off of diesel fuel or propane or something like that? Or are these mixes something really exotic with special chemicals specially put together for the laser?
Does anybody here have any idea what “alternative fuel mix” would be ignitable with a laser that a spark plug cannot set off? Is the idea that a laser would allow a normal engine to run off of diesel fuel or propane or something like that? Or are these mixes something really exotic with special chemicals specially put together for the laser?
Wow. This is more impressive than it sounds. The cool factor is huge (and that is important for Ford), but I would think that laser systems would require less maintenance than spark plugs. Realistically, we’re probably talking about “lense cleaning” instead of “plug replacement.”
Wow. This is more impressive than it sounds. The cool factor is huge (and that is important for Ford), but I would think that laser systems would require less maintenance than spark plugs. Realistically, we’re probably talking about “lense cleaning” instead of “plug replacement.”
basically wat i wanna no is,by using laser ignition how much space it is going to occupy compared 2 spark plugs….i like this whole new concept.i also want 2 no how far hav these developements reached?
basically wat i wanna no is,by using laser ignition how much space it is going to occupy compared 2 spark plugs….i like this whole new concept.i also want 2 no how far hav these developements reached?
New spark plug -plasma spark plug reduce 70% fuel reduce CO2 zero-O-
emissions CO2 !!!!!
For years now, I have wondered where and when the next Edison with a
bright idea will appear and invent a “lean, green, driving
machine
I have finally found such a man. He lives in Farmington Hills,
Michigan, and his name is Robert Krupa
We have all heard the saying, “If something sounds too good to be
true, itsually is”. The amazing new spark plug designed by Mr Krupa,
which he named “FireStorm”, is the exception to this rule.
named “FireStorm”, is the exception to this rule.
I know that when it comes to buying spark plugs, they are all
basically the same except for the price.
So, why make the same except
for the price. So, why make a big deal about another new spark plug?
Fire Storm Capabilities
First, let look at what Krupa FireStorm spark plugs give an
internal
combustion engine:
More horsepower;
44-50% increase in mpg;
Dramatic decrease in emissions.
Second, let see what FireStorm plugs eliminate:
Smog pump;
Catalytic converter;
Radio frequency interference (RFI) and the use of resistors in the
centre
electrode;
Gap growth;
Exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) systems;
Misfire/hesitation/detonation/stutter and stumble.
How, you may ask, is all this achieved? In a word, plasma. The
revolutionary design of FireStorm spark plugs creates an electric
plasma
that fills the entire combustion chamber like a firestorm. It allows you
to take an internal combustion engine from the standard 14.7:1
air-to-fuel
ratio to an incredibly lean 24:1,30:1,40:1. At this ratio, all the
air/fuel mixture
is burned much more efficiently without increasing heat, thus
giving an engine more power and fuel economy while creating much less
pollution.
The bad news is that you can buy a set of FireStorm spark plugs
anywhere right now.
http://www.libertypost.org/cgi-bin/readart.cgi?ArtNum=87928
http://web.archive.org/web/20051216110959/www.robertstanley.biz/firestorm.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abwXApkLhbc
http://contest.techbriefs.com/component/content/article/134
Interview w/Robert Krupa – Firestorm spark plug
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/5372687