Are laser spark plugs better?

Scientists have long known lasers could do a better job, because lasers can do a better job at most everything: They can be more precisely controlled in timing and ignition levels and they don’t suffer from wear due to electrical arc “pitting” like traditional spark plugs do.

What are the advantages of using laser ignition system over a conventional ignition system?

Laser ignition systems have numerous benefits over spark ignition systems like superior lean burn capacity, excellent control over ignition timings, flexible ignition locations and improved performance and emission characteristics. Majority of studies have used Q-switched Nd: YAG lasers for their research.

What are three 3 characteristics that affect the performance of spark plugs?

The three factors with particularly large impact are the spark plug gap, the compression pressure, and the air-fuel mixture temperature.

How do laser spark plugs work?

Infrared light from a neodymium-YAG laser is fired into the tube, which carries it round bends and into the engine cylinders where a lens focuses all the energy onto a fine spot. This triggers the electrical breakdown of gas inside the cylinder and generates a plasma spark that ignites the fuel.

Are Laser Iridium spark plugs worth it?

Iridium spark plugs are the most expensive spark plug model on the market, but in many cases they are worth the investment, as the premium price also comes with high performance and reliability.

What are the disadvantages of a laser ignition system?

Drawbacks of Conventional Ignition System It requires frequent maintenance to remove carbon deposits. Leaner mixtures cannot be burned, ratio between fuel and air has to be within the correct range. Degradation of electrodes at high pressure and temperature. Flame propagation is slow.

Can lasers ignite fuel?

Lasers promise less pollution and greater fuel efficiency, but making small, powerful lasers has, until now, proven hard. To ignite combustion, a laser must focus light to approximately 100 gigawatts per square centimeter with short pulses of more than 10 millijoules each.

Are Laser Iridium spark plugs better than platinum?

Iridium is said to be six times harder and eight times stronger than platinum with a 700° higher melting point. Iridium spark plugs have extremely fine electrodes while retaining excellent wear characteristics. Thanks to its strength, iridium spark plugs can last up to 25% longer than comparable platinum spark plugs.