Ignition Apparatus Tertiary Coil Spark Stability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ignition apparatuses face issues with maintaining stable spark discharge in fuel-air mixtures with high dilution and EGR rates, leading to recurrent blowouts and increased consumption of ignition plugs due to fluctuating secondary currents.
Innovation Solution
An ignition apparatus with a tertiary coil that generates energization flux to reduce secondary current, utilizing a controller to manage the energization of the primary and tertiary coils to control the spark discharge and minimize plug consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple discharges are generated in a single combustion stroke, then the flammability of dilute fuel-air mixtures is improved, but the ignition discharge current recurrently becomes zero causing discharge blowout and increased ignition plug consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by generating multiple discharges in advance within a single combustion stroke to ensure stable combustion of dilute mixtures. The ignition coil is designed to produce sequential discharges before the combustion process completes, ensuring that the fuel-air mixture is reliably ignited and burned throughout the entire combustion cycle, thereby preventing combustion instability while avoiding excessive current that would blow out the discharge and consume the plug.
2Reliability
If secondary current is increased to prevent discharge blowout, then combustion stability is improved, but ignition plug consumption increases due to electrode erosion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuity of useful action by maintaining a sustained secondary current flow through multiple sequential discharges within a single combustion stroke. Instead of using a single high-current discharge that would erode the electrodes, the system continuously generates multiple lower-current discharges that collectively maintain combustion stability throughout the entire combustion process, thereby preventing blowout while minimizing electrode consumption through distributed, continuous action.
3Reliability
If two ignition coils are connected in parallel to achieve long-discharging-time multiple-discharge characteristics, then combustion stability is improved, but the apparatus configuration becomes complicated and the apparatus is upsized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a single ignition coil that performs multiple functions: it generates multiple discharges within a single combustion stroke, provides sustained secondary current, and ensures stable combustion of dilute mixtures. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for multiple separate ignition coils connected in parallel, thereby achieving the same combustion stability improvement while keeping the apparatus configuration simple and compact.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively reduces secondary current flow, preventing blowouts and extending the lifespan of ignition plugs by stabilizing the spark discharge and optimizing energy usage.
Implementation Method 1
a first switching circuit for performing on/off-switching of energization of the primary coil from a power source, a secondary coil that is magnetically coupled with the primary coil and supplies a secondary current to an ignition plug
Implementation Method 2
a tertiary coil that is magnetically coupled with the primary coil and the secondary coil and generates energization flux for reducing the secondary current
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided an ignition apparatus that makes it possible that after a spark discharge starts, a secondary current is reduced so that a plug is suppressed from being consumed. The ignition apparatus is provided with an ignition coil including a primary coil, a secondary coil, and a tertiary coil, a first switching circuit for performing on/off-switching of energization of the primary coil from a power source, a second switching circuit for performing on/off-switching of energization of the tertiary coil, and a controller that performs on/off-control of the first switching circuit so as to generate a secondary current in the secondary coil, thereby causing a spark discharge in an ignition plug, and then turns on the second switching circuit so as to reduce the secondary current through a change in flux in the tertiary coil.