MEASUREMENT OF LOCAL MIXTURE STRENGTH AT SPARK GAP OF S.I. (SPARK IGNITION) ENGINES

A sampling valve was developed to measure combustion in the immediate vicinity of the spark gap in spark ignition engines. The device has a stainless steel needle valve and central electrode inserted in a spark plug; the electrode is actuated by a solenoid. The structure of the sampling plug is diagrammed. The plug operates successively cycle to cycle; a gas volume of about 0.4 cc can be sampled in a single operation. Precautions include adequate sealing of the valve seat, adjusting for variations in sampling volume and allowing for the effect of condensation and absorption of hydrocarbon (HC). Each gas sample is analyzed separately to allow cycle-by-cycle variations of mixture strength. Concentrations of HC, carbon dioxide (CO2), and carbon monoxide are determined, using a newly devised analyzer on the CO2. Factors critical to success are optimum length of sampling pipe corresponding to frequency rate of sampling and flow rate of carrier gas, and understanding what influence the sampling may have on the combustion process. The gas sampling plug is available for use in any conventional engine without any changes in cylinder head configuration. Details of the CO2 analyzer and of the sample sensor are appended.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/01487191
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Presented at SAE Congress and Exposition, Detroit, 26 February-2 March 1979.
• Corporate Authors:

  Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)

  400 Commonwealth Drive
  Warrendale, PA  United States  15096
• Authors:
  • Matsui, K
  • Tanaka, T
  • Ohigashi, S
• Publication Date: 1979

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 18 p.
• Serial:
  • SAE Technical Paper
  • Publisher: Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)
  • ISSN: 0148-7191
  • EISSN: 2688-3627
  • Serial URL: http://papers.sae.org/

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Combustion; Gas analysis; Measuring instruments; Spark gaps; Spark ignition engines
• Subject Areas: Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00386864
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: SAE 790483, HS-029 266U
• Files: HSL, USDOT
• Created Date: Jul 30 1984 12:00AM