Lasers Could Replace Spark Plugs

[MrStabby]

http://scienceblog.com/44560/laser-sparks-revolution-in-internal-combustion-engines/

[Greekos]

pretty cool but shouldn't they be looking into creating some sort of Synthetic fuel to brun.

[r32-25t]

They have that, that what ethanol is

Edited April 21, 2011 by r32-25t

[PM-R33]

Wow amazing! About bloody time some one updated the "spark plug". Was actually discussing this with my mate a few months back talking about how there really havn't been any proper advancements in spark plugs for decades other than using precious metals as electrodes.

[xALmoN]

i would be concerned about the battery's ability to handle the laser ignition...

[MrStabby]

  On 21/04/2011 at 11:19 AM, xALmoN said:

i would be concerned about the battery's ability to handle the laser ignition...

Batteries provide a huge amount of capacitance, so I cant see any obvious problem. What am i missing?

[warps]

Pfft - diesels have been running without spark plugs for a century. Nothing new here.

[Galois]

Very interesting, but isn't the limiting factor when it comes to leaning engine temperature, ie detonation? And even pre-ignition?

[SECURITY]

  On 21/04/2011 at 11:05 PM, warps said:

Pfft - diesels have been running without spark plugs for a century. Nothing new here.

how the hell does that compare? diesels have a compression ratio of something like 20:1 to ignite the fuel. try using that kind of compression in a petrol engine.

[xALmoN]

  On 21/04/2011 at 12:31 PM, MrStabby said:

Batteries provide a huge amount of capacitance, so I cant see any obvious problem. What am i missing?

i have no idea about batteries, that's my problem, i'm looking forward to see what can be done about these laser ignition systems, and would they be relevant to our aging RB engines?

[Galois]

  On 25/04/2011 at 2:57 PM, xALmoN said:

i have no idea about batteries, that's my problem, i'm looking forward to see what can be done about these laser ignition systems, and would they be relevant to our aging RB engines?

That's exactly what I was wondering. Surely the roll-out of this technology would require serious modification to existing vehicles? Ecu, coilpacks, for a start would probably need a change.

[xALmoN]

i would reckon its not just supplying a current, but also the timing and such, not sure how electrical signals work, but maybe, there can be a "translator" sort of thing that changes the signal for the sparkplugs to something relevant to the lasers?

[Galois]

  On 25/04/2011 at 4:13 PM, xALmoN said:

i would reckon its not just supplying a current, but also the timing and such, not sure how electrical signals work, but maybe, there can be a "translator" sort of thing that changes the signal for the sparkplugs to something relevant to the lasers?

Hmmmm sounds cheap lol. It'd need a retune to take full effect of the new technology though.

Lol I guess if they lasted a lifetime though they may pay for themselves (it'll be a while before the new technology becomes that reliable)

[beemae30]

I really dont think the petrol internal combustion engine has that much longer left in it. So i wouldn't worry about converting rb's to laser ignition

[xALmoN]

well,

still a decade or two left in them at least brah.

[SECURITY]

i wonder how they'd get around the carbon build up on the lazer lens. unless it closed somehow.

[MrStabby]

  On 26/04/2011 at 4:44 AM, SECURITY said:

i wonder how they'd get around the carbon build up on the lazer lens. unless it closed somehow.

Maybe like a spark plug does now - the laser could burn off any carbon.

Next step to upgrade the tech on an RB would be direct injection since that's a mature technology already. The laser stuff is a while away if it ever gets into production.

I reckon internal combustion has got a fair bit of life left in it. Either ethanol or gas (Australia has shedloads of gas. There's just been a $90 billion 20 year deal signed with China).

[beemae30]

Id reckon maybe a decade if that? Emissions laws are become to stringent and tecnology is finally become enough to produce the equipment necessary to make hybrids/hydrogen vehicles.

[zebra]

In regards to the battery issue...BMW and M-Benz have been pushing for 48Volt sytems for a few years now.

They say they have gone as far as they can using 12 volt

these cars have elec brakes/steering/throttle/suspention & 11ty diffent computers etc

[xALmoN]

how large would these 48volt batties be? 4x the size of a regular 12volt one?