EP3955400A1 - Zündkerze mit doppelter elektrischer entladung - Google Patents

Zündkerze mit doppelter elektrischer entladung Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3955400A1
EP3955400A1 EP20465577.3A EP20465577A EP3955400A1 EP 3955400 A1 EP3955400 A1 EP 3955400A1 EP 20465577 A EP20465577 A EP 20465577A EP 3955400 A1 EP3955400 A1 EP 3955400A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
electrodes
electrode
mini
spark plug
ground
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EP20465577.3A
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English (en)
French (fr)
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EP3955400B1 (de
Inventor
Dragos-George ASTANEI
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Universitatea Tehnica "gheorghe Asachi" Din Iasi
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Universitatea Tehnica "gheorghe Asachi" Din Iasi
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01T—SPARK GAPS; OVERVOLTAGE ARRESTERS USING SPARK GAPS; SPARKING PLUGS; CORONA DEVICES; GENERATING IONS TO BE INTRODUCED INTO NON-ENCLOSED GASES
    • H01T13/00—Sparking plugs
    • H01T13/20—Sparking plugs characterised by features of the electrodes or insulation
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01T—SPARK GAPS; OVERVOLTAGE ARRESTERS USING SPARK GAPS; SPARKING PLUGS; CORONA DEVICES; GENERATING IONS TO BE INTRODUCED INTO NON-ENCLOSED GASES
    • H01T13/00—Sparking plugs
    • H01T13/46—Sparking plugs having two or more spark gaps
    • H01T13/467—Sparking plugs having two or more spark gaps in parallel connection
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01T—SPARK GAPS; OVERVOLTAGE ARRESTERS USING SPARK GAPS; SPARKING PLUGS; CORONA DEVICES; GENERATING IONS TO BE INTRODUCED INTO NON-ENCLOSED GASES
    • H01T13/00—Sparking plugs
    • H01T13/20—Sparking plugs characterised by features of the electrodes or insulation
    • H01T13/32—Sparking plugs characterised by features of the electrodes or insulation characterised by features of the earthed electrode

Definitions

  • This invention refers to the special design of a spark plug with double electrical discharge that may be used for all types of internal combustion engines having a spark-ignition system fueled by gas or other light combustion fuels.
  • the technical field of the present invention belongs to the ignition systems for internal combustion engines based on spark plugs having optimized configurations and which, when installed on an engine, do not require structural modifications of the engine or of the electrical system.
  • a double spark plug which provides two simultaneous discharges, and contains an intermediate electrode in the shape of a star washer placed on a ceramic insulator between the central electrode of rod type and the ground electrode is known.
  • this spark plug a discharge between the lateral end of electrode and the upper part of the intermediate electrode is induced on a flat segment thereof, and a discharge between one of the edges of the star washer and the surface of the ground electrode.
  • This solution has the disadvantage of using a high breakdown voltage which wears and ages the insulation of the power supply circuit.
  • Wartel "A New Spark Plug to Improve the Performances of Combustion Engines: Study and Analysis of Unburned Exhaust Gases", Plasma Chemistry and Plasma Processing, vol. 38, issue 5, pp. 1115-1132, 2018 , and [3] D. Astanei, F. Faubert, S. Pellerin, B. Hnatiuc, M. Wartel, "Evaluation of the efficiency of a double spark plug to improve the performances of combustion engines: pressure measurement and plasma investigations", Plasma Chemistry and Plasma Processing, manuscript, vol. 40, pp. 283-308, 2020 .
  • spark plugs having the main electrode connected to a power supply source and multiple secondary electrodes mounted on the ground electrode of the device made from the thread restraint system thereof; see [4]- DE602004006220 (T2 ) NGK SPARK PLUG CO, [5] DE102005036949 "Spark plug with multiple ground electrodes", DENSO CORP, NIPPON SOKEN, and [6] WO2016026597 "Spark plug with a multiple ground electrode", BOSCH ROBERT GMBH.
  • the secondary electrodes are bent towards the rod of the main electrode.
  • the main disadvantage of the solutions presented above is that they provide a single electrical discharge of spark type between the central electrode and one of the ground electrodes while the generated plasma volume is low.
  • spark plugs with multiple electrodes generating multiple discharges of spark type to initiate combustion in the combustion room of the internal combustion engines see [7] DE102009036732, Gau Timo et.al. , "Spark plug i.e. multi-spark plug, has mass electrodes comprising capacity with finite conductivity so that successive ignition sparks lies at different mass electrodes, and control device controlling ignition coil", DAIMLER AG and [8] DE602005001573, Agneray Andre, Rivere Jean-Pierre , “Multiple spark surface discharge spark plug, RENAULT SA.
  • the disadvantage of these solutions consists in the need to modify the electric power supply system for ignition or to use an additional electronic system.
  • the technical problems that this invention solves consist in the generation of high volume of plasma generated by two simultaneous electrical discharges in order to provide a high quality combustion of the air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engines without the need to make modifications of the electrical system, with breakdown voltage values comparable to those of a conventional system, thus preventing the deposit of calamine on electrodes.
  • the spark plug contains an intermediate electrode placed on a ceramic insulator between a central electrode connected to a power supply and the ground electrode.
  • the intermediate electrode has a floating electric potential, and the values of the electric potential range between the electric potential of the central electrode and the one of the ground electrode, the electric potential value being dependent on the power supply voltage's amplitude of the central electrode, on the location of the intermediate electrode with regards to the central electrode and the ground electrode or on the shape of the ceramic insulator.
  • Both the intermediate electrode and the ground electrode contain mini electrodes.
  • this spark plug has the following advantages:
  • the spark plug is made of an intermediate electrode 1 mounted on a ceramic insulator 2 placed between a central principal electrode 3, and a ground electrode 4.
  • the intermediate electrode 1 contains superior mini electrodes 5 on the upper surface 1.3 oriented towards the spark surface 3a of the central electrode 3 and inferior mini electrodes 6 on the lower surface 1.4 oriented towards the discharge surface 4a of the ground electrode 4.
  • Ground mini electrodes 7 are mounted on the surface of the ground electrode 4.
  • the intermediate electrode 1 has the shape of a flat washer with a central hole and protrusions 8 arranged towards the exterior circumference of the washer on which mini electrodes 6 are placed on the lower surface 1.4.
  • the protrusions 8 have spaces between them allowing the development of the combustion flame initiated by the electric discharge ignited between one of the pairs of mini electrodes 6 and 7 both in a radial direction with regards to the longitudinal central axis y of the spark plug and in a parallel direction with it.
  • the double spark plug with intermediate electrode of star washer type known from the state of the art mentioned above, allows for the evolution of combustion flame initiated by the electric discharge ignited between one of the tips of the star washer and the ground electrode only in radial direction with regards to the longitudinal central axis y of the spark plug.
  • the mounting position of the intermediate electrode 1 on the ceramic insulator 2 must be chosen in such a way so that the ratio between the length of discharge generated between the intermediate electrode 1 and the ground electrode 4 and the length of the discharge generated between the central electrode 3 and the intermediate electrode 1 should be between 1.4 and 1.8, this value being dependent on the diameter of the ceramic insulator and on the shape thereof.
  • This ratio allows that the ignition voltage's value of the two discharges may be approximately the same, knowing that the discharge between the electrodes 3 and 1 is a discharge generated on the surface of the ceramic insulator 2 ignited between a cylindrical surface and a superior mini electrode 5, while the discharge generated between the electrodes 1 and 4 is ignited between two inferior 6 and ground 7 mini electrodes.
  • the mini electrodes 5, 6 and 7 have the shape of an irregular polyhedron (ABCDEFG), according to figure 3 , having a polygonal base with 5 sides (BCEFG) in contact with the intermediate and ground electrodes or creating a common body with them, a lateral side ABC in the shape of an isosceles triangle oriented for the mini electrodes 5 and 7 towards the longitudinal central axis y of the spark plug and towards the circumference of the spark plug in the case of the mini electrodes 6, and an ignition edge AD.
  • ABSCDEFG irregular polyhedron
  • the BC base of the isosceles triangle is common with one of the laterals of the polygon representing the base of the mini electrode 5, 6 or 7 coming into contact with the electrode 1 in the case of the mini electrodes 5 and 6 or with the electrode 4 in the case of the mini electrodes 7, and the plane created by the ABC triangle is perpendicular on the plane described by the polygonal base having 5 sides of the mini electrode 5, 6 or 7, BCEFG.
  • the sharpening degree of the mini electrodes is given by a ⁇ angle defined as a sharpening angle that is formed by the congruent sides AB and AC of the isosceles triangle ABC corresponding to the mini electrodes 5, 6 or 7.
  • the value of the sharpening angle ⁇ which is opposite the base of the isosceles triangle ABC, may have values between at least 30° and at most 120°. A value which is less than 30° for this angle will result in an accelerated erosion of the mini electrode while reducing the performances of the spark plug and shortening the lifespan thereof.
  • a value which is more than 120° for this angle will result in a larger width of the protrusion 8 of the intermediate electrode, thus limiting the space for the development of the combustion flame initiated by the electrical discharge produced between the intermediate electrode and the ground electrode on a direction parallel with the longitudinal central axis y of the spark plug.
  • the mini electrodes 5, 6 and 7 have discharge ignition edges whose sharpening angles range between at least 30° and at most 120° in order to provide a breakdown voltage (discharge ignition voltage) with lower values considering the distance between electrodes as compared to the situation where a discharge is ignited in the same pressure, humidity and nature of the fluid between electrodes conditions, between two planar or spherical electrodes known in the state of the art.
  • the discharges' ignition voltage in case of the double spark plug is comparable to the one encountered in the conventional ignition systems and with values between 40 and 60% of the breakdown voltage afferent to the use of the double spark plug with intermediate electrode in the shape of a star washer, as known from the state of the art mentioned above, the breakdown voltage of a discharge being much lower when the ignition takes place between electrodes with edges as compared to the ignition between two planar electrodes, as known from the theory of electrical discharges.
  • the electrical discharge generated between the central electrode and the intermediate electrode is started between two planar electrodes, the circumferential surface of the central electrode and a flat upper surface in proximity of the ceramic insulator of the intermediate electrode of star washer type.
  • the second discharge in the case of the double spark plug with intermediate electrode in the shape of a star washer is of tip-flat surface type ignited between a tip of the star washer similar to a pyramid tip oriented towards the ground electrode and the flat surface of the ground electrode.
  • mini electrodes with edges on whose surface electrical discharges are ignited also ensure the avoidance of calamine deposit in the area of discharge ignition, a phenomenon that would reduce the performances of the spark plug, since the deposit of calamine on edges is less encountered than in the case of surfaces.
  • the repeated ignition of electrical discharges in limited areas, on edges also ensures the self-cleaning of discharge ignition areas of the mini electrodes.
  • the edge of the mini electrodes 5, 6 or 7 on whose surface the discharge is ignited also known as ignition edge is the segment AD, corresponding to a common side of two lateral faces identical in shape of a mini electrode ( 5, 6, 7 ), namely between the faces ACED and ADGB, according to figure 3 , describing a sharpening angle ⁇ as defined above.
  • the body of the mini electrodes ( 5, 6, 7 ) has the shape of a polyhedron.
  • the AD edge is a line segment placed substantially parallel to the plane created by the base of the mini electrode's body (BCEFG), at a minimum distance from it and non-zero.
  • the mentioned base is located on a discharge surface ( 1.3, 1.4, 4a ).
  • the shortest ways to ignite discharges are comprised between the spark surface 3a of the central electrode 3 and the AD edge of the mini electrodes 5, and between the AD edges of the pairs of mini electrodes 6 and 7.
  • the shape of a straight edge on whose surface the discharge is ignited ensures the reduction of wear of the mini electrodes as compared to the double discharge spark plug with intermediate electrode in the shape of a star washer, as known from the state of the art mentioned above, whose discharge ignition points between the intermediate electrode and the ground electrode are similar to the tip of a pyramid, a tip that erodes more easily as compared to an edge.
  • the ignition edge (AD) of the mini electrodes 5, 6 or 7 has a length value lower than the value of the minimum distance between the point F and the BC side, according to figure 3 . This way thermal transfer and heat dissipation are ensured from the area of the ignition edges of the mini electrodes towards the intermediate electrode 1 when referring to the superior mini electrodes 5 and inferior mini electrodes 6 and respectively towards the ground electrode 4 when referring to the ground mini electrodes 7.
  • the superior mini electrodes 5 are arranged circumferentially about the longitudinal central axis y of the spark plug, at equal distances between them, and the end of the ignition edge related to the superior mini electrode 5, defined as point A described in figure 3 , comes into contact with the surface of the cylindrical insulator 2.
  • the inferior mini electrodes 6 are arranged at equal distances between them and about the longitudinal central axis y of the spark plug, in the exterior part of the protrusions 8 corresponding to the maximum diameter thereof, the number of inferior mini electrodes 6 being equal to the number of protrusions 8.
  • the ground mini electrodes 7 are arranged circumferentially about the longitudinal central axis y of the spark plug, at equal distances between them.
  • the number of mini electrodes 7 is equal to the number of mini electrodes 6, and they are arranged in pairs as they are coplanar in vertical planes comprising the longitudinal central axis y of the spark plug. The arrangement in different planes may result in the ignition of discharges between the flat regions of the electrodes, which may be covered in calamine, and the mini electrodes that would lead to the increase of the breakdown voltage value.
  • the mini electrodes 6 and 7 are arranged in such a way so that the segment defined by the tips (ends) of the edges of mini electrodes located towards the central electrode (point D in case of mini electrodes 6 and point A in case of mini electrodes 7 in figure 3 ) should be parallel to the longitudinal central axis y of the spark plug.
  • the arrangement of the mini electrodes 5, 6 and 7 at equal distances between them provides the possibility to ignite discharges in different regions in the combustion room, regardless of the position of the spark plug resulted following the mounting thereof by screwing up in the cylinder head of the internal combustion engine.
  • the distances between the mini electrodes 5, 6 or 7 may be different and still the spark plug would function, such a configuration would not bring any benefits from the technical viewpoint since it would no longer ensure the ignition of discharges in different regions of the engine combustion room.
  • the number of mini electrodes 5, 6 and 7 may range between 2 and 18 for each type of mini electrode 5, 6 or 7.
  • a minimum number of 2 mini electrodes of each type of mini electrodes 5, 6 or 7 arranged at equal distances the ignition of electrical discharges between electrodes 3 and 1 and respectively 1 and 4 in regions of the combustion room of the internal combustion engine is ensured thus allowing the development of the combustion flame and ensuring a quick and full combustion of the air-fuel mixture.
  • the use of more than 18 superior mini electrodes 5 results in the reduction or disappearance of the distance between them, and this may cause calamine deposit which triggers faster erosion thereof.
  • the use of a number of pairs of mini electrodes 6 and 7 higher than 18 would also cause, apart from calamine deposit through the reduction or disappearance of the space between ground mini electrodes 7, to the reduction or disappearance of the space between protrusions 8 of the intermediate electrode 1 which ensure the easier development of the combustion flame.
  • the selection of the number of mini electrodes depends on the size of the exterior diameter of the ground electrode and of the spark plug thread. At the same time, the use of a high number of mini electrodes is not justified from the economic viewpoint since it requires the increase of the number of technological operations and of the quantity of material used thus resulting in a higher cost of production.
  • the number of mini electrodes 5 and 6 may be the same or different, even an uneven number, and if the number of mini electrodes 5 equals the number of mini electrodes 6, the mini electrodes 5 may be mounted in a coplanar manner with the mini electrodes 6 in vertical planes comprising the longitudinal central axis y of the spark plug, or in vertical planes comprising the longitudinal central axis y of the spark plug in different directions from those of vertical planes comprising the longitudinal central axis y of the spark plug corresponding to the mounting positions of the mini electrodes 6.
  • Constructive examples for the intermediate electrode 1 having the same number or a different number of mini electrodes 5 and 6 are given in Figure 4 .
  • the mini electrodes 5, 6 and 7 may be made from the same material as the intermediate electrode 1, and as the ground electrode 4, respectively since they have a common body with said electrodes, made of steel or they may be made separately from the body of the electrodes 1 and 4, from materials having superior electrical properties and having a higher capacity of thermal transfer by conduction and resistant to high temperatures and erosion such as platinum or iridium, and being subsequently applied on the intermediate electrode 1, and on the ground electrode 4 through welding, soldering or other known technical methods that may ensure high electrical and thermal conductivity.
  • the ceramic insulator 2 has a groove accommodating the intermediate electrode 1 with floating electrical potential to avoid the detachment of electrode 1 in conditions of vibrations, pressures and high temperature encountered in the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engines.

Landscapes

  • Spark Plugs (AREA)
  • Ignition Installations For Internal Combustion Engines (AREA)
EP20465577.3A 2020-08-10 2020-10-30 Zündkerze mit doppelter elektrischer entladung Active EP3955400B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
RO202000507A RO135550A2 (ro) 2020-08-10 2020-08-10 Bujie cu descărcare dublă

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3955400A1 true EP3955400A1 (de) 2022-02-16
EP3955400B1 EP3955400B1 (de) 2022-12-21

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RO (1) RO135550A2 (de)

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102005036949A1 (de) 2004-08-06 2006-04-20 Denso Corp., Kariya Zündkerze mit mehreren Masseelektroden
DE602004006220T2 (de) 2003-12-19 2007-08-30 Ngk Spark Plug Co., Ltd. Zündkerze
DE602005001573T2 (de) 2004-05-07 2008-03-13 Renault S.A.S. Gleitfunkenzündkerze mit mehreren Funken
DE102009036732A1 (de) 2009-08-08 2011-02-10 Daimler Ag Zündkerze
US20110163654A1 (en) 2005-04-08 2011-07-07 Renault S. A.S Open-chamber multi-spark plug
WO2016026597A1 (de) 2014-08-21 2016-02-25 Robert Bosch Gmbh Zündkerze mit mehrmasseelektrode

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE602004006220T2 (de) 2003-12-19 2007-08-30 Ngk Spark Plug Co., Ltd. Zündkerze
DE602005001573T2 (de) 2004-05-07 2008-03-13 Renault S.A.S. Gleitfunkenzündkerze mit mehreren Funken
DE102005036949A1 (de) 2004-08-06 2006-04-20 Denso Corp., Kariya Zündkerze mit mehreren Masseelektroden
US20110163654A1 (en) 2005-04-08 2011-07-07 Renault S. A.S Open-chamber multi-spark plug
DE102009036732A1 (de) 2009-08-08 2011-02-10 Daimler Ag Zündkerze
WO2016026597A1 (de) 2014-08-21 2016-02-25 Robert Bosch Gmbh Zündkerze mit mehrmasseelektrode

Non-Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
A. MARIANIF. FOUCHER: "Radio frequency spark plug: An ignition system for modern internal combustion engines", APPLIED ENERGY, vol. 122, 2014, pages 151 - 161, XP028841559, DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2014.02.009
ASTANEI DRAGOS ET AL: "A New Spark Plug to Improve the Performances of Combustion Engines: Study and Analysis of Unburned Exhaust Gases", PLASMA CHEMISTRY AND PLASMA PROCESSING, PLENUM PRESS. NEW YORK, US, vol. 38, no. 5, 8 May 2018 (2018-05-08), pages 1115 - 1132, XP036554902, ISSN: 0272-4324, [retrieved on 20180508], DOI: 10.1007/S11090-018-9903-5 *
B. HNATIUCS. PELLERINE. HNATIUCR. BURLICAN. CERQUEIRAD. ASTANEI: "Spectroscopic diagnostic of transient plasma produced by a spark plug", ROMANIAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICS, vol. 56S, 2011, pages 109 - 113
D. ASTANEIF. FAUBERTS. PELLERINB. HNATIUCM. WARTEL: "A New Spark Plug to Improve the Performances of Combustion Engines: Study and Analysis of Unburned Exhaust Gases", PLASMA CHEMISTRY AND PLASMA PROCESSING, vol. 38, 2018, pages 1115 - 1132, XP036554902, DOI: 10.1007/s11090-018-9903-5
D. ASTANEIF. FAUBERTS. PELLERINB. HNATIUCM. WARTEL: "Evaluation of the efficiency of a double spark plug to improve the performances of combustion engines: pressure measurement and plasma investigations", PLASMA CHEMISTRY AND PLASMA PROCESSING, vol. 40, 2020, pages 283 - 308, XP036981315, DOI: 10.1007/s11090-019-10044-3
HNATIUC B ET AL: "Electrical modeling of a double spark at atmospheric pressure", 2014 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON OPTIMIZATION OF ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT (OPTIM), IEEE, 22 May 2014 (2014-05-22), pages 1005 - 1010, XP032615770, DOI: 10.1109/OPTIM.2014.6851006 *

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Publication number Publication date
RO135550A2 (ro) 2022-02-28
EP3955400B1 (de) 2022-12-21

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