Analysis on control factors of air-fuel ratio limit by using in-cylinder optical measurement

Abstract

To increase thermal efficiency of internal combustion engine, lean burn and EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) system have been developed with spark ignition coils generating larger discharge current and discharge energy than current mass production coils. Several researches clarified that larger discharge current increases discharge channel extension and decreases possibility of discharge channel blow-off and possibility of misfire. However, these investigations don't mentioned effect of larger discharge current and energy on air-fuel ratio and combustion period. Then purpose of this research is to investigate relation among air-fuel ratio, combustion period and coil specification in order to clarify control factor of air-fuel ratio of lean burn. In this study, five coils having different current profiles were evaluated under 2000 rpm and 0.6 MPa NMEP (Net indicated Mean Effective Pressure) at lean mixture condition by combustion test and in-cylinder optical measurement test with research single cylinder engine. The combustion test results showed a correlation between lean limit air-fuel ratio and initial combustion period. Moreover, optical measurement test showed that initial combustion period has a correlation with discharge energy before 1st restrike and discharge channel extension rate and variation of initial combustion period under stable control condition doesn't depend on discharge current.