Multi-Point Laser Ignition for Lean-Burn Engine Misfire Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lean-burn engines face issues with misfires due to incomplete mixing, leading to inefficient operation and increased NOx production, as manufacturers must keep operations close to stoichiometry to avoid misfires, limiting the effectiveness of lean-burn operation.
Innovation Solution
A multi-point laser device comprising multiple optical pumping sources, a high-reflectivity mirror, a laser media, a passive q-switch media, an output coupler, and output lenses, configured to produce lasing events at different times and locations within the engine, enhancing ignition reliability and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If lean-burn operation is used to reduce NOx production, then harmful emissions are reduced, but misfires occur due to incomplete mixing and local heterogeneity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single ignition source into multiple spatially distributed laser ignition sources. Each optical pumping source creates a localized pumping excitation energy at different locations within the laser media, producing multiple atomic optical emissions that are focused to different locations in the combustion chamber. This segmentation of the ignition function across multiple points ensures reliable ignition across the entire combustion chamber volume, preventing misfires even under lean-burn conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-point ignition approach to a multi-point spatial distribution of ignition sources. By using multiple optical pumping sources arranged in specific geometries (such as tetrahedral configurations), the system adds spatial dimensionality to the ignition process. This dimensional expansion allows simultaneous ignition at multiple locations, ensuring complete combustion chamber coverage and eliminating misfires while maintaining lean-burn operation.
2Reliability
If multiple optical pumping sources are used to produce lasing events at different locations, then ignition reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple optical pumping sources, laser media, and optical components into a single integrated laser device structure. All components are positioned within a unified housing that provides structural support and optical alignment. The multiple optical paths share common elements such as the output coupler and output lens, merging functions to reduce overall system complexity despite having multiple active pumping sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the optical components to serve multiple functions. The output coupler and output lens are shared across all optical paths, serving universal functions for all laser beams. The housing structure provides both mechanical support and optical alignment reference for all components. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of unique components needed, offsetting the complexity increase from having multiple pumping sources.
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 device achieves reliable ignition and improved combustion efficiency by generating multiple lasing events at precise locations and times, reducing misfires and NOx production, thereby optimizing engine operation.
Implementation Method 1
Each optical pumping source is configured to create a pumping excitation energy. The laser media is made of a material that emits an atomic optical emission when exposed to the pumping excitation energy.
Implementation Method 2
The laser media is made of a material that emits an atomic optical emission when exposed to the pumping excitation energy
Implementation Method 3
The high-reflectivity mirror is substantially reflective to the atomic optical emission of the laser media
Implementation Method 4
The output coupler and one or more output lenses are configured to produce a plurality of lasing events at substantially different times, locations or a combination thereof from the multiple atomic optical emissions
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-point laser device comprising a plurality of optical pumping sources. Each optical pumping source is configured to create pumping excitation energy along a corresponding optical path directed through a high-reflectivity mirror and into substantially different locations within the laser media thereby producing atomic optical emissions at substantially different locations within the laser media and directed along a corresponding optical path of the optical pumping source. An output coupler and one or more output lenses are configured to produce a plurality of lasing events at substantially different times, locations or a combination thereof from the multiple atomic optical emissions produced at substantially different locations within the laser media. The laser media is a single continuous media, preferably grown on a single substrate.