Laser ignition of engines: a realistic option!

M. Weinrotter; D. K. Srivastava; K. Iskra; J. Graf; H. Kopecek; J. Klausner; G. Herdin; E. Wintner

doi:10.1117/12.660458

9 June 2006 Laser ignition of engines: a realistic option!

M. Weinrotter, D. K. Srivastava, K. Iskra, J. Graf, H. Kopecek, J. Klausner, G. Herdin, E. Wintner

Proceedings Volume 6053, International Conference on Lasers, Applications, and Technologies 2005: High-Power Lasers and Applications; 605316 (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.660458
Event: International Conference on Lasers, Applications, and Technologies 2005, 2005, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation

Abstract

Due to the demands of the market to increase efficiencies and power densities of gas engines, existing ignition schemes are gradually reaching their limits. These limitations initially triggered the development of laser ignition as an effective alternative, first only for gas engines and now for a much wider range of internal combustion engines revealing a number of immediate advantages like no electrode erosion or flame kernel quenching. Furthermore and most noteworthy, already the very first engine tests about 5 years ago had resulted in a drastic reduction of NO_x emissions. Within this broad range investigation, laser plasmas were generated by ns Nd-laser pulses and characterized by emission and Schlieren diagnostic methods. High-pressure chamber experiments with lean hydrogen-methane-air mixtures were successfully performed and allowed the determination of essential parameters like minimum pulse energies at different ignition pressures and temperatures as well as at variable fuel air compositions. Multipoint ignition was studied for different ignition point locations. In this way, relevant parameters were acquired allowing to estimate future laser ignition systems. Finally, a prototype diode-pumped passively Q-switched Nd:YAG laser was tested successfully at a gasoline engine allowing to monitor the essential operation characteristics. It is expected that laser ignition involving such novel solid-state lasers will allow much lower maintenance efforts.

Citation Download Citation

M. Weinrotter, D. K. Srivastava, K. Iskra, J. Graf, H. Kopecek, J. Klausner, G. Herdin, and E. Wintner "Laser ignition of engines: a realistic option!", Proc. SPIE 6053, International Conference on Lasers, Applications, and Technologies 2005: High-Power Lasers and Applications, 605316 (9 June 2006); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.660458

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