Siddharth das 12MAE0011 M-Tech Automotive Eng.

SMBS ,VIT

Guided by Vijayakumar T

Spark-plug ignitability improvement technology. Minimize the heat loss by the electrode. Reduction in required voltage. Improvement through using fine centre and ground electrode

Fig 1 , ref (fig 1)

Fine Ground Electrode Fine Center Electrode

Fig 2 , ref (fig 15)

Center-electrode miniaturization Advantages: Reduction in required voltage. Disadvantage :Wearing of electrodes. To overcome the disadvantages iridium spark plug was introduced. The first high performance iridium spark plug was introduced by DENSO(0.4 mm).

Ground-electrode miniaturization. Advantages: 1) Contribution to ignitability Heat loss by the electrodes

(CFD analysis K- e turbulence model)

Fig 3 , ref (fig 2)

--miniaturization spark gap to be narrower higher ignitability over the Iridium Spark. Flame growth
Fig 4 , ref (fig 3) (CFD analysis

K- e turbulence
model)

--fine ground electrode flame grows significantly compared to iridium sparkplug.

2. Contribution to required voltage reduction.

Electric Field Analysis (FEM)

Electric field strength is less affected by the size of the spark gap. Gap reduced Voltage reduced

Fig 5 , ref (fig 7)

Disadvantages

Fig 6 , ref (fig 8)

High protrusion of ground electrode higher temperatures higher tip temperatures accelerating wear shorter life

1) Miniaturized-portion protrusion direction.

Evaluation is done at equal throttle opening with the ISC (idle speed control) turned off. Higher idle speed represents higher ignitability. Influence of the miniaturized-portion protrusion in the axial direction is more advantageous than the radial direction.

2) Miniaturized-portion dimensions.

Fig 8 , ref (fig 10)

In the case of the Iridium Spark Plug, the size reduction of the spark gap (from 1.1 mm to 0.6mm) makes ignitability deteriorate.

In the case of the spark plug with a fine ground electrode, when protrusion length L is 0.5 mm or longer, the spark plug with a fine ground electrode is far superior to the Iridium Spark Plug in spite of the narrowed spark gap (0.6 mm). The longer the length L, the higher the ignitability. The smaller the diameter D, the better the ignitability.

3)

Influence on required voltage.

Fig 9 , ref (fig 11)

The required voltage of the spark plug with a fine ground electrode increases more moderately than those of the Iridium Spark Plug when the spark gap is widened. A fine ground electrode can thus reduce required voltage when the spark gap is widened. A spark plug with a fine ground electrode can achieve the service life equivalent to that of the Iridium Spark Plug even if the spark gap is expanded 0.1 mm more

4) Electrode materials to achieve long life.

The wear of spark-plug electrodes is classified into sparking wear and "oxidation wear . Sparking wear:

Fig 10 , ref (fig 12)

The worn volume of the center electrode is approximately nine times that of the ground electrode.
The positive ions that collide with the center electrode that is negative are significantly greater in mass than the electrons that collide with the ground electrode that is positive, exerting great energy on the center electrode at the time of collision

Oxidation wear:

Fig 11 , ref (fig 13)

Worn volume was approximately equal between the center electrode and ground electrode in the case of spark plugs of conventional design.

The worn volume of the fine ground electrode was more than three times that of the center electrode. The temperature of the ground electrode was higher than that of the center electrode. The ground electrode should be made from a highly oxidation-resistant material, because its wear is mostly oxidation wear and sparking wear is low.

5) Precious-metal alloy optimal for the miniaturized portion of ground electrode. Pure pt vs. Ir-10Rh vs. Pure Ir.

Fig 12 , ref (fig 14)

Oxidation rate of Pure pt is less compared to other two. A suitable Pt alloy is selected.

A suitable Pt alloy is selected for the ground electrode.

Fig 13 , ref (fig 15)

1) Better fuel efficiency. 1800cc , 4 cylinder engine , 800rpm. Pmi cov( coeff of variation) shows fluctuation in IMEP. Pmi COV reduces approximately by 3.1% and accordingly fuel consumption reduced by 2.4%, compared with the Iridium Spark Plug.

Fig 14 , ref (fig 17)

2) Reduced emissions. 1600cc , 4 cylinder , VVT advance. The Super Ignition Spark Plug enables lower combustion variation than the Iridium Spark Plug, enabling VVT advance. Internal exhaust-gas recirculation increases as a result, NOx emissions can be reduced approximately 9 % when VVT is advanced for the combustion variation to be on the same level as that of the Iridium Spark Plug.

Fig 15 , ref (fig 18)

3) Improved cranking performance. Low temperature, 2500cc , 6 cylinder engine. Evaluation was conducted by switching on and off the starter repeatedly, and counting the number of the onoff operations until the engine was activated. The Super Ignition Spark Plug enables engine start at lower oil temperature than the Iridium Spark Plug. Better cold starting.

Fig 16 , ref (fig 19)

Reduction in heat loss . Reduction in size. Increase in ignitability. Reduction in required voltage. Better fuel efficiency. Reduced emissions, Improved cranking performance.

Reference: Hori Tetsunobu and Shibata Msamichi et al., Super Ignition Spark Plug with Fine Center& Ground electrode, SAE Paper 010404, 2003