Ford to replace spark plugs with lasers
07-17-2009, 02:45 PM
#1
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Ford to replace spark plugs with lasers
Ford Motor Co. and researchers at the University of Liverpool are developing a car ignition system that swaps spark plugs for a laser beam to start vehicles while generating fewer greenhouse gas emissions.
The team has just received nearly £200,000 (US$320,000) in grants to test the technology from the Carbon Trust, a government funded entity charged with helping businesses in the transition to a low carbon economy. The award is part of the Carbon Trust’s Applied Research grant that supports the development of low carbon technologies.
Ford reportedly plans to install the laser ignitions in a select range of vehicles in the next few years before expanding the laser ignitions on a larger scale. The technology works like this: The laser is quickly directed toward the combustion chamber where the fuel is most concentrated, allowing the engine to run on a more efficient mix of fuel and air. Bigger diameter valves that improve engine gas flow could be used in such a system because the thin fiber optic cable delivering the laser beam is smaller than a spark plug. The laser is also more reliable than a traditional spark plug.
The laser ignition may also overcome a significant barrier to widespread adoption of biofuels -- starting the vehicle when the engine is cold. According to the Telegraph, reflecting part of the laser back from inside the cylinder can deliver information on fuel type and ignition level to allow vehicles to optimally adjust the air/fuel mix.
“Laser ignition is a really exciting technology because it improves the efficiency of petrol cars and could, in the future, speed the uptake of cars run on biofuels derived from sustainable organic materials such as algae,” Mark Williamson, the Carbon Trust’s director of innovations, said in a statement.
The team has just received nearly £200,000 (US$320,000) in grants to test the technology from the Carbon Trust, a government funded entity charged with helping businesses in the transition to a low carbon economy. The award is part of the Carbon Trust’s Applied Research grant that supports the development of low carbon technologies.
Ford reportedly plans to install the laser ignitions in a select range of vehicles in the next few years before expanding the laser ignitions on a larger scale. The technology works like this: The laser is quickly directed toward the combustion chamber where the fuel is most concentrated, allowing the engine to run on a more efficient mix of fuel and air. Bigger diameter valves that improve engine gas flow could be used in such a system because the thin fiber optic cable delivering the laser beam is smaller than a spark plug. The laser is also more reliable than a traditional spark plug.
The laser ignition may also overcome a significant barrier to widespread adoption of biofuels -- starting the vehicle when the engine is cold. According to the Telegraph, reflecting part of the laser back from inside the cylinder can deliver information on fuel type and ignition level to allow vehicles to optimally adjust the air/fuel mix.
“Laser ignition is a really exciting technology because it improves the efficiency of petrol cars and could, in the future, speed the uptake of cars run on biofuels derived from sustainable organic materials such as algae,” Mark Williamson, the Carbon Trust’s director of innovations, said in a statement.
07-19-2009, 07:10 AM
#4
Lasers are the most ineffcient invention of all time but in this application it only has to travel a short distance. Seems like it would be ideal for diesel engines, ditching the glow plugs.
Off topic, but Mitsubishi has a laser TV out, very expensive but the picture never fades and it uses less energy. They are also developing projectors meaning the bulb never needs replacing and the picture is better.
Off topic, but Mitsubishi has a laser TV out, very expensive but the picture never fades and it uses less energy. They are also developing projectors meaning the bulb never needs replacing and the picture is better.
07-23-2009, 09:33 PM
#6
Lasers are the most ineffcient invention of all time but in this application it only has to travel a short distance. Seems like it would be ideal for diesel engines, ditching the glow plugs.
Off topic, but Mitsubishi has a laser TV out, very expensive but the picture never fades and it uses less energy. They are also developing projectors meaning the bulb never needs replacing and the picture is better.
Off topic, but Mitsubishi has a laser TV out, very expensive but the picture never fades and it uses less energy. They are also developing projectors meaning the bulb never needs replacing and the picture is better.
07-24-2009, 08:35 AM
#11
"All I freakin' asked for is a Ford Focus with freakin' laser beams to start the engine!"
Interesting non-the less. Nothing like a period or soaring fuel costs and a green movement. I mean, think about it, the 90s big engine change was variable valve timing (it seemed) and traction control+stability control on top end cars.
Now, we've got direct injection, hybrid drives, fully plug in electric production cars, hydrogen car prototypes. It seems like there have been way more advancements in the last 10 years than the ten years before that. Just an opinion.
Interesting non-the less. Nothing like a period or soaring fuel costs and a green movement. I mean, think about it, the 90s big engine change was variable valve timing (it seemed) and traction control+stability control on top end cars.
Now, we've got direct injection, hybrid drives, fully plug in electric production cars, hydrogen car prototypes. It seems like there have been way more advancements in the last 10 years than the ten years before that. Just an opinion.
07-24-2009, 09:59 AM
#12
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I'm interested on the type of laser used. If the fuel ignited with the center of the chamber (or by the highest concentration) or does the laser reflect off the cylinder walls and those points are the ignition points. Is it a single beam or multiple?
07-24-2009, 10:05 AM
#13
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OMG!!!...this sounds REAL RELIABLE...and uuuuuhh...how much is a tune up on a Mustang GT now..Imagine if they put this in there. I'm all about innovation, but as broke as folks are now, make that **** LAST!!!!!
07-24-2009, 10:33 AM
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It sounds to me like the laser would have the ability to alter its firing angle to target the largest concentration of fuel. Since fuel atomization isn't an exact science this certainly would lead to increases in miles per gallon since the largest fuel areas would be combusted every time.
The notion of being able to use laser feedback to determine air/fuel ratio would also be a vast improvement. O2 sensors have some delay in them while you would be dealing with the speed of light. The latency for something like this would be so small that combined with a high powered computer it could make thousands of adjustments every second if necessary.
Being able to run leaner mixtures at a higher compression is technology that is already available and is capable of producing high powered cars that get loads of fuel mileage. The problem is this technology isn't compatible with our current emissions technology aka the catalytic converter.
This is certainly more promising than the bogus plan of forcing people into smaller cars.
The notion of being able to use laser feedback to determine air/fuel ratio would also be a vast improvement. O2 sensors have some delay in them while you would be dealing with the speed of light. The latency for something like this would be so small that combined with a high powered computer it could make thousands of adjustments every second if necessary.
Being able to run leaner mixtures at a higher compression is technology that is already available and is capable of producing high powered cars that get loads of fuel mileage. The problem is this technology isn't compatible with our current emissions technology aka the catalytic converter.
This is certainly more promising than the bogus plan of forcing people into smaller cars.
07-24-2009, 11:10 AM
#15
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Direct injection fuel usually follows a path such as this:
So you could have a preexisting "assumption" as to where the largest fuel density will be. I'm just curious to how they'll pin point such a location on a moving atomized fluid.
07-24-2009, 01:04 PM
#16
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Just put the ignition back where Felix Wankel originally had it. On the rotor faces themselves. This assumes that the lazers would never need replacing like a spark plug does. That's the perfect spot as the air/fuel mixture is always in contact with the point of ignition rather than having to be lit as it flies past it.
07-24-2009, 01:17 PM
#17
Lasers are the most ineffcient invention of all time but in this application it only has to travel a short distance. Seems like it would be ideal for diesel engines, ditching the glow plugs.
Off topic, but Mitsubishi has a laser TV out, very expensive but the picture never fades and it uses less energy. They are also developing projectors meaning the bulb never needs replacing and the picture is better.
Off topic, but Mitsubishi has a laser TV out, very expensive but the picture never fades and it uses less energy. They are also developing projectors meaning the bulb never needs replacing and the picture is better.
07-29-2009, 01:08 PM
#19
07-29-2009, 01:25 PM
#20
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I don't foresee this actually happening. The cost of these laser ignition systems as compared to traditional ignition systems would be staggering I imagine. And for how much gain in efficiency?
07-30-2009, 03:18 PM
#22
...pondering...
very interesting - with the way the plugs get fouled, I wonder how they plan to keep the laser lens clean from carbon and fuel residue etc. Seems like if carbon did happen to get on there the heat of the laser would just bake it onto the lens rendering the "plug" useless - if the light can't get into the chamber, it won't work so good....and I can imagine replacing a laser head would be a little more expensive than a standard plug.
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