Laser Ignition System for Internal Combustion Engine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ignition systems for internal combustion engines face issues such as carbon deposition on electrodes, heat loss leading to premature flame extinction, and poor fuel mixing due to ignition occurring near the wall surface, resulting in inefficient combustion.
Innovation Solution
A laser ignition system that uses a laser beam focused through a lens and prism to ignite an oxygenated fuel mixture within the combustion chamber, allowing for precise ignition away from the wall surface and minimizing heat loss, with an adaptive beam steering unit capable of directing the laser to multiple locations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional ignition plug is used with high voltage discharge, then ignition can be achieved, but carbon deposits on the electrode making discharge difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional mechanical/electrical ignition plug with a laser-based ignition system. The laser beam generates a plasma kernel through optical energy, which then initiates combustion. This substitution eliminates the electrode structure that accumulates carbon deposits, maintaining ignition reliability without the harmful carbon deposition effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the ignition mechanism from electrical discharge parameters (high voltage) to optical parameters (laser beam energy). By transforming the ignition physics from electrostatic to photothermal processes, the system achieves reliable ignition while avoiding the carbon deposition problem inherent in electrode-based systems.
2Reliability
If ignition occurs near the wall surface, then ignition can be achieved, but heat loss occurs and flame vanishes before reaching fuel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the laser ignition source in the bulk fuel mixture rather than at the wall surface, transitioning from a two-dimensional wall-based ignition to a three-dimensional volume-based ignition. This dimensional change allows the plasma kernel to form directly within the fuel, eliminating heat loss through the wall and ensuring the flame reaches and ignites the fuel effectively.
3Reliability
If ignition occurs on or near the wall surface, then ignition can be achieved, but poor mixing results due to difficulty burning fuel from wall surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves ignition from the wall surface (two-dimensional) into the bulk fuel mixture (three-dimensional). This allows the laser-induced plasma kernel to ignite fuel molecules directly in the mixture volume, promoting better fuel-air mixing and more stable combustion compared to wall-based ignition where fuel must be burned from the surface.
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
Improves combustion efficiency by maintaining flame integrity and enhancing fuel mixing, reducing carbon deposition and heat loss, leading to more consistent and effective ignition in internal combustion engines.
Implementation Method 1
A laser beam is focused into a chamber to generate a plasma kernel to ignite a combustive medium
Implementation Method 2
A beam steering unit is provided which comprises a lens and a prism both configured to cooperatively transmit the laser beam to focus on an oxygenated fuel mixture
Implementation Method 3
the prism is configured to transmit the focused laser beam to focus on an oxygenated fuel mixture supplied into a combustion chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A laser beam ignition system for an internal combustion engine is provided. The laser beam ignition system comprises a laser configured to generate a laser beam, and a beam steering unit comprising a lens and a prism both configured to cooperatively transmit the laser beam to focus on an oxygenated fuel mixture supplied into a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine. A beam steering unit and a method for igniting a fuel mixture in an internal combustion engine are also presented.