Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Characterization of spark ignition energy transfer at different phases using pressure-rise calorimetry

Saha, Anupam LU ; Tunestål, Per LU orcid ; Ängeby, Jakob and Andersson, Öivind LU (2025) 2025 SAE World Congress Experience, WCX 2025 In SAE Technical Papers
Abstract
The paper presents novel studies on the electrical-to-thermal energy deposition to gas at different phases of a spark. The experiments utilized a 10.9 milliliter custom-built spark calorimeter. The energy transfer efficiencies across spark phases—breakdown+arc, and glow are quantified, emphasizing their importance in ensuring robust ignition. An AC capacitive ignition system was considered in the experiments. The spark plugs used in the experiments were of dual-nickel standard J-gap design of a fixed electrode gap. Test results show the breakdown+arc phases are highly efficient in converting electrical to thermal energy, crucial for ignition. The glow phase, offering control flexibility, is found to be less effective in energy transfer... (More)
The paper presents novel studies on the electrical-to-thermal energy deposition to gas at different phases of a spark. The experiments utilized a 10.9 milliliter custom-built spark calorimeter. The energy transfer efficiencies across spark phases—breakdown+arc, and glow are quantified, emphasizing their importance in ensuring robust ignition. An AC capacitive ignition system was considered in the experiments. The spark plugs used in the experiments were of dual-nickel standard J-gap design of a fixed electrode gap. Test results show the breakdown+arc phases are highly efficient in converting electrical to thermal energy, crucial for ignition. The glow phase, offering control flexibility, is found to be less effective in energy transfer from spark to gas. In addition, a maximum threshold for both glow current and duration is found. Exceeding the threshold reduces the net energy deposition to the gas, indicating an increase in thermal energy losses, primarily to the spark plug electrodes. Furthermore, a positive relationship between gas pressure and glow phase efficiency is established. The energy transfer to the gas during the glow phase is found to improve with the increase in gas pressure. Based on the findings, an optimal ignition control strategy is proposed for both biogas and hydrogen fueled spark ignited internal combustion engines (SI-ICEs). It aims to maximize energy transfer to gas and reduce heat losses to spark plug electrodes. Using this approach may extend spark plug life in biogas engines and lower the risk of pre-ignition from overheated spark plug electrodes in hydrogen engines. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
keywords
spark ignition, Calorimetry, Breakdown discharge, Arc discharge, Glow discharge, Hydrogen, Biogas, Internal Combustion Engines, Spark Plug, Energy Transfer, Sustainabiliity
host publication
SAE International WCX World Congress
series title
SAE Technical Papers
issue
2025-01-8402
article number
2025-01-8402
pages
10 pages
publisher
Society of Automotive Engineers
conference name
2025 SAE World Congress Experience, WCX 2025
conference location
Detroit, United States
conference dates
2025-04-08 - 2025-04-10
ISSN
2688-3627
0148-7191
DOI
10.4271/2025-01-8402
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
6e5270bc-0c55-41e5-9671-4518a13f0520
alternative location
https://www.sae.org/publications/technical-papers/content/2025-01-8402/
date added to LUP
2025-05-10 23:00:01
date last changed
2025-05-20 13:39:54
@inproceedings{6e5270bc-0c55-41e5-9671-4518a13f0520,
  abstract     = {{The paper presents novel studies on the electrical-to-thermal energy deposition to gas at different phases of a spark. The experiments utilized a 10.9 milliliter custom-built spark calorimeter. The energy transfer efficiencies across spark phases—breakdown+arc, and glow are quantified, emphasizing their importance in ensuring robust ignition. An AC capacitive ignition system was considered in the experiments. The spark plugs used in the experiments were of dual-nickel standard J-gap design of a fixed electrode gap. Test results show the breakdown+arc phases are highly efficient in converting electrical to thermal energy, crucial for ignition. The glow phase, offering control flexibility, is found to be less effective in energy transfer from spark to gas. In addition, a maximum threshold for both glow current and duration is found. Exceeding the threshold reduces the net energy deposition to the gas, indicating an increase in thermal energy losses, primarily to the spark plug electrodes. Furthermore, a positive relationship between gas pressure and glow phase efficiency is established. The energy transfer to the gas during the glow phase is found to improve with the increase in gas pressure. Based on the findings, an optimal ignition control strategy is proposed for both biogas and hydrogen fueled spark ignited internal combustion engines (SI-ICEs). It aims to maximize energy transfer to gas and reduce heat losses to spark plug electrodes. Using this approach may extend spark plug life in biogas engines and lower the risk of pre-ignition from overheated spark plug electrodes in hydrogen engines.}},
  author       = {{Saha, Anupam and Tunestål, Per and Ängeby, Jakob and Andersson, Öivind}},
  booktitle    = {{SAE International WCX World Congress}},
  issn         = {{2688-3627}},
  keywords     = {{spark ignition; Calorimetry; Breakdown discharge; Arc discharge; Glow discharge; Hydrogen; Biogas; Internal Combustion Engines; Spark Plug; Energy Transfer; Sustainabiliity}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{04}},
  number       = {{2025-01-8402}},
  publisher    = {{Society of Automotive Engineers}},
  series       = {{SAE Technical Papers}},
  title        = {{Characterization of spark ignition energy transfer at different phases using pressure-rise calorimetry}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.4271/2025-01-8402}},
  doi          = {{10.4271/2025-01-8402}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}