Bright sparks come up with Frickin' Laser combustion

mrk · 17 Jul 2009 at 20:27

Pun intended

autoblog said:
In a breakthrough that may make vehicle starting issues due to fouled plugs or inclement weather a thing of the past, engineers at Ford have reportedly teamed with scientists at Liverpool University to develop a laser beam ignition system to replace ye olde spark plug. The researchers claim their technology is more efficient, more reliable, and it will enable vehicles to start easier in extreme temperatures and damp climates.

Unlike traditional spark plugs (invented way back in 1839 by Edmond Berger), laser light may be split into multiple beams distributing ignition points within the cylinders – not just at the tip of the plug. This not only aids combustion, it also lowers emissions during cold starts. Researchers also point out that the lasers use less energy than their spark plug counterparts, eliminate wear items and wires (fiber optics will carry the laser beam to the cylinders), and improve fuel burn by "watching" ignition from within the combustion chamber and sending messages back to the ECU to adjust fuel mixtures, timing, and ignition.

Ford is expected to introduce the technology in its top models within the next few years, and then make it more widely available. Thanks to everyone for the tips!

[Source]

TaKeN · 17 Jul 2009 at 21:05

Surely they will need to be rather powerful to ignite Petrol vapour?

saitrix · 17 Jul 2009 at 21:09

TaKeN said:
Surely they will need to be rather powerful to ignite Petrol vapour?

Probably not too much, remember you don't need as much energy when it is under compression.

Interesting to see this in person and see the potential gains. More complete combustion is always a good thing.

MrMatteh · 17 Jul 2009 at 21:20

sounds great, but are cold starts really an issue these days?

Jonnycoupe · 17 Jul 2009 at 21:58

Screw that, compression ignition petrol engines is where its at.... well at low loads anyway.

Fr0dders · 17 Jul 2009 at 22:02

i suppose something had to replace the spark plug eventually

all this new fangled technology and we're still going round lighting fuel and air with a spark plug invented 170 years ago !

Jonnycoupe · 17 Jul 2009 at 22:04

The mains concern is if its cheaper, thats all that really matters, spark plugs at the moment represent close to zero cost of running a car.

Deleted User 234324 · 17 Jul 2009 at 22:13

No doubt the new advertising slogan for a Ford will be along the lines of..

Ford... now with added pew pew!

BigglesPiP · 17 Jul 2009 at 22:15

mrk said:
distributing ignition points within the cylinders – not just at the tip of the plug. This not only aids combustion, it also lowers emissions during cold starts.

Already got that.

It will be interesting to see what it's pitfalls are, because it will not be flawless by any means. I can see it being very sensitive to carbon deposits, if the engine runs wrong because of any sensors it may now just stop altogether.

merlin · 17 Jul 2009 at 22:15

Could the ability to distribute ignition points possibly speed up the combustion process?

BigglesPiP · 17 Jul 2009 at 22:17

merlin said:
Could the ability to distribute ignition points possibly speed up the combustion process?

Yes, it does, meaning that more power can be delivered for more of the power stroke. My car already does this.

mrk · 17 Jul 2009 at 22:19

Yeah more efficient combustion = less fuel burnt and more power, and regarding the section about the ECU managed reader to optimise the LASER power, something like this could be new remapping methods perhaps? increase laser power etc?

MadMossy said:
No doubt the new advertising slogan for a Ford will be along the lines of..

Ford... now with added pew pew!

Janesy B · 17 Jul 2009 at 22:19

Yeah, by doubling the amount of spark plugs. Not really clever is it

merlin · 17 Jul 2009 at 22:19

BigglesPiP said:
Yes, it does, meaning that more power can be delivered for more of the power stroke. My car already does this.

I guess the laser system can change from multiple shot to single shot on demand, does the t spark do that or is that a fixed system?

BigglesPiP · 17 Jul 2009 at 22:21

Janesy B said:
Yeah, by doubling the amount of spark plugs. Not really clever is it

It staggers the sparks, so that one of them happens, in an extra compressed fuel/air mix in front of the flame front, it's very clever, laser can't do that.

merlin · 17 Jul 2009 at 22:22

BigglesPiP said:
It staggers the sparks, so that one of them happens, in an extra compressed fuel/air mix in front of the flame front, it's very clever, laser can't do that.

Is this scheduled, or intelligent?

BigglesPiP · 17 Jul 2009 at 22:22

merlin said:
I guess the laser system can change from multiple shot to single shot on demand, does the t spark do that or is that a fixed system?

Laser can't do that, moving a lens in the combustion chamber wouldn't work.

They could always use 2 lasers tho.

BigglesPiP · 17 Jul 2009 at 22:23

merlin said:
Is this scheduled, or intelligent?

It has a knock sensor and adaptive mapping, whether the sparks can get closer together or not I don't know.

merlin · 17 Jul 2009 at 22:23

BigglesPiP said:
Laser can't do that, moving a lens in the combustion chamber wouldn't work.

They could always use 2 lasers tho.

They're saying they can release multiple shots.

BigglesPiP · 17 Jul 2009 at 22:24

merlin said:
They're saying they can release multiple shots.

Yes, but it would release the same multiple shots in the same places each time you fire it. Sure it can fire again, but only into areas that are already burning.