Fundamental study on the laser ignition methanol diesel engine

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Fundamental study on the laser ignition methanol diesel engine

Ishida, H. / Akagawa, H. / Noda, M. / Yoshihara, S.

Methanol is one of substitute fuels for petroleum and features the low production of harmful substances when burned. Methanol, however, has its drawback in that it does not ignite spontaneously even when exposed to the heat of compression of charged air and thus requires the use of some forced ignition system. For large diesel engines to run on methanol on the direct injection principle, however, employing the ignition systems so far in use entails too many technical problems to be a practical approach. In the NEDO-comissioned research, therefore, the authors have proposed a laser ignition system, in which pulsed laser beam of light is shed on a target material fixed to the combustion chamber wall to produce plasma for ignition. A series of fundamental experimental studies have so far been conducted on the system, including combustion tests in a small single cylinder experimental engine, with the results indicating that the system can support the continuous engine operation. Also, the authors have been refining the system into an entirely new technique for emitting the pulsed laser beam of light at the fuel spray instead of the fixed target material, with ist sustained combustion-support capability already verified through tests and hence with a good prospect of its practical application to large 2-cycle diesel engine operating on the direct injection principle.