LASER IGNITION

FOR COMBUSTION
ENGINES

BY
RAKESH ROUSHAN
M T / E T / 1 0 0 0 1 / 1 8,
ENERGY TECHNOLOGY
 CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION
2. WHY LASER IGNITION?
3. HOW LASER IGNITION WORKS
4. PRINCIPLE OF LASER IGNITION
5. LASER ARRAGEMENTS
6. EXPERIMENTAL SETUP
7. LASER SPARK PLUG
8. LI SYSTEM FOR AN IC ENGINE
9. ADVANTAGES
10. DISADVANTAGES
11. CONCLUSION
12. REFERENCES
 INTRODUCTION
• Sustainability with regard to internal combustion engines is
strongly linked to the fuels burnt and the overall efficiency. Laser
ignition can enhance the combustion process and minimize
pollutant formation.
• This presentation is on laser ignition of sustainable fuels for
future internal combustion engines.
•Ignition is the process of starting radical reactions until a self-
sustaining flame has developed.
• In technical appliances such as internal combustion engines,
reliable ignition is necessary for adequate system performance.
• Ignition strongly affects the formation of pollutants and the
extent of fuel conversion.
 Why Laser Ignition ?
• Regulations on NOx emissions are pushing us toward
leaner air/fuel ratios (higher ratio of air to fuel).
– These leaner air/fuel ratios are harder to ignite and
requirehigher ignition energies. Spark plugs can
ignite leaner fuel mixtures, but only by increasing
spark energy. Unfortunately, these high voltages erode
spark plug electrodes so fast, the solution is not
economical. By contrast, lasers, which ignite the air-
fuel mixture with concentrated optical energy, have no
electrodes and are not affected.
• Natural gas is more difficult to ignite than gasoline due
to the strong carbon to hydrogen bond energy.
– Lasers are monochromatic, so it will be much easier to
ignite natural gases and direct the laser beam to an
optimal ignition location.
• Because of the requirement for an increase in ignition
energy, spark plug life will decrease for natural gas
engines.
– Laser spark plug ignition system will require less
power than traditional spark plugs, therefore
outlasting spark plugs.
• Ignition sites for spark plugs are at a fixed location at
the top of the combustion chamber that only allows for
ignition of the air/fuel mixture closest to them.
– 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.
HOW LASER IGNITION WORKS ?
The laser ignition system has a laser transmitter with a fiber-
optic cable powered by the car’s battery. It shoots the laser
beam to a focusing lens that would consume a much smaller
space than current spark plugs. The lenses focus the beams
into an intense pinpoint of light, and when the fuel is
injected into the engine, the laser is fired and produces
enough energy (heat) to ignite the fuel.
Principle of Laser Ignition

focused laser beam

Plasma

flame kernel

mixture burning
Laser Arrangement
Experimental setup
Laser spark plug
 Standard Spark Plug Ignition in an
Internal Combustion Engine
• Current internal combustion gasoline engines use spark
plugs to ignite the air/fuel mixture in each cylinder
(located at the top of the combustion chamber).
Laser Ignition System for an Internal
Combustion Engine
 Advantages

•Effective ignition of leaner mixture at lower

combustion temperature.

•Less NOx emissions.

•No erosion effects in case of spark plug.

•Lifetime of laser ignition system expected to be

significantly longer than that of conventional spark
plug.

•High load ignition pressure possible.

• High power output, hence higher efficiency.

• Precise ignition timing possible.

• Exact regulation of the ignition energy deposited in

the ignition plasma.

• Multipoint ignition is possible.

• Shorter ignition delay time and shorter combustion

time .
 Disadvantages

• High system costs.

• Concept proven, but no commercial system available

yet.
 Conclusion
• An enhanced ignition source can make a strong
contribution to sustainability in internal combustion
engines.
• It was found in the test with hydrogen that with
higher initial pressure the minimum pulse energy for
ignition decreases, same behavior was found for
methane.
• Fuel-lean biogas/air mixture exhibit a slower
combustion process which results in lower peak
pressure and flame emission compared to methane-air
of same air to fuel ratio.
• Applicability of the laser induced ignition as a
future ignition system for combustion engines
with spray-guided combustion process could
be proved with basic research.
• It is possible to ignite mixtures with different
laser systems.
REFERENCES
1. http://www.laserist.com
2. www.studaymafia.com
3. www.sincedirect.com
4. www.Google.com
5. www.wikipedia.com