Ignition System

Ignition System
• Purpose: To supply a spark inside the cylinder, near the end
of the compression stroke, to ignite the compressed charge
of air–fuel vapour
• Voltage required to produce spark:
– Air gap of 0.6mm - under normal atmospheric conditions (1 bar)
- 2–3 kV
– similar gap in an engine cylinder-compression ratio of 8 : 1- 8 kV
approx.
– Higher compression ratios and weaker mixtures-up to 20 kV
• Transform the normal battery voltage of 12 V to
approximately 8–20 kV
 Factors to be considered for Ignition System
Design
• Combustion chamber design
• Air-fuel ratio
• Engine speed range
• Engine load
• Engine combustion temperature
• Emission regulations
 Types of Ignition Systems
• Battery ignition or coil ignition systems (used
in almost all petrol vehicles)
• Magneto ignition system (used in small
engines – motorcycles, scooters, mopeds,
motorboats)
Battery Ignition System
 Magneto Ignition System
• Magneto is used instead of batteries
• Magneto:
– Fixed armature having primary and secondary
windings
– Rotating magnetic assembly
Ignition Coil
Exhaust Emissions
Distributor
 Dwell Time
• In a petrol engine, the period of time the
ignition points are closed to let current flow
through the ignition coil in between each
spark.
• Dwell is the amount of time required to
charge an inductive coil to its maximum
energy level.
 Ignition Timing
• The process of setting the angle relative to
piston position and crankshaft angular velocity
that a spark will occur in the combustion
chamber near the end of the compression
stroke.
• Optimal efficiency - the ignition advance angle
should be such as to cause the maximum
combustion pressure to occur about 10 ° after
top dead centre (TDC).
 Ignition Timing depends on
• Engine design (combustion chamber type,
spark plug position, bore diameter and engine
operating conditions)
• Compression ratio
• Engine Speed
• Engine load (Weak or rich mixture)
Distributor Ignition Advance Mechanisms

• Centrifugal advance: Engine speed

• Vacuum advance: Engine load
Battery Ignition System
 Disadvantages of Conventional Mechanical
Systems
• Mechanical problems with the contact breakers, not the
least of which is the limited lifetime.
• Current flow in the primary circuit is limited to about 4 A
or damage will occur to the contacts – or at least the
lifetime will be seriously reduced.
• Legislation requires stringent emission limits, which
means the ignition timing must stay in tune for a long
period of time.
• Weaker mixtures require more energy from the spark to
ensure successful ignition, even at very high engine speed.
 Programmed Ignition
• Digital control
• Data -> ROM
• Sensors :
– Engine speed and position crankshaft sensor
– Manifold absolute pressure sensor (Engine Load)
– Engine temperature - coolant sensor
– Detonation-knock sensor
Electronic Control Unit
Ignition calculation flow diagram
Ideal timing angle for an Engine
Distributorless Ignition
Direct Ignition