Spark Plug Supplemental Ignition for Cylinder Vortex Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Combustion variations in engines lead to uneven turbulence inside the cylinder, affecting combustion speed and fuel efficiency, as the position of vortex centers within the cylinder fluctuates during the intake and compression strokes, causing one-way flows that hinder flame propagation to specific areas.
Innovation Solution
A method to control the engine by detecting the current value of an electric-discharge channel generated between spark plug electrodes during the intake or compression stroke, estimating the vortex center positions, and adjusting the spark plug's ignition timing to ensure supplemental ignition in areas with weak turbulence, thereby promoting uniform flame propagation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the intake flow is used to generate turbulence in the cylinder, then the combustion speed is improved, but the vortex center position fluctuates causing uneven turbulence distribution and combustion variation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing supplemental ignition before the main ignition to create turbulence in areas where the main intake flow cannot reach. The controller detects flow state parameters and triggers supplemental ignition at predetermined timings to pre-mix and heat the mixture gas in regions with weak turbulence, ensuring uniform combustion conditions across the entire cylinder before the main combustion event.
2Stability of the object's composition
If supplemental ignition is performed to enhance flame propagation in weak turbulence areas, then combustion uniformity is improved, but the control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by using the existing intake flow state detection capability to automatically trigger supplemental ignition without requiring additional complex sensors or manual control. The controller monitors flow state parameters (such as intake air flow rate or pressure) and autonomously determines when supplemental ignition is needed, utilizing the engine's own operational parameters to guide the control action.
3Measurement precision
If the spark plug ignites multiple times to detect electric-discharge channel current, then the in-cylinder flow estimation is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by performing supplemental ignition only when and where necessary, rather than continuously or excessively. The controller determines the need for supplemental ignition based on detected flow state parameters and predetermined criteria, applying ignition energy selectively to specific cylinder regions only when turbulence is insufficient, thereby avoiding unnecessary energy consumption while maintaining combustion uniformity.
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
This approach reduces combustion variation by ensuring consistent combustion speed across cycles, improving fuel efficiency by enhancing flame propagation and turbulence uniformity within the cylinder.
Implementation Method 1
a spark plug provided at or near the center axis of the cylinder... applying by the ignition device a high voltage between electrodes of the spark plug... detecting a parameter related to a current value of an electric-discharge channel generated between the electrodes
Implementation Method 2
a tumble flow and a swirl flow are generated inside the cylinder in order to accelerate the generation of the turbulence inside the cylinder
Data Source
AI summary
A method of controlling an engine is provided, which includes the steps of injecting main fuel by a fuel injector during an intake stroke or a compression stroke, providing a mixture gas containing fuel and air inside a cylinder, applying by an ignition device a high voltage between electrodes of a spark plug at a timing when the mixture gas is not ignited, detecting a parameter related to a current value of an electric-discharge channel generated between the electrodes, determining by a controller whether the detected parameter is within a range between a first threshold and a second threshold to determine a flowing state of a vortex inside the cylinder, operating the spark plug to carry out a supplemental ignition when the parameter is determined to be outside the range, and igniting the mixture gas by operation of the spark plug after the supplemental ignition.