Spark plugs giving way to lasers

[Kingman]

Spark plugs giving way to lasers
The Telegraph

Say goodbye to spark plugs, a 19th century technology about to be supplanted by lasers. The U.K. paper The Telegraph reports that Ford is working with the University of Liverpool to develop a laser ignition system for internal-combustion engines. That's right: engines with frickin' lasers strapped to their heads.

The laser beam is delivered by a thin, fiber-optic cable to a focusing lens that would take up much less space than a spark plug, allowing engineers greater flexibility in designing valves and cylinders. The laser beam can be split to ignite the fuel mixture from multiple points deep in the cylinder, making for a more efficient burn than a spark plug can achieve, reducing emissions and getting better fuel economy. Another advantage to the laser system is that part of the beam can be reflected to a receiver and used to gather data on the fuel mixture and the quality of the burn.

And this isn't merely a research project, as there are working prototypes of the system at the University of Liverpool laboratory. Ford, which has eagerly been adopting fuel efficiency technology such as electric-power steering and six-speed transmissions, reportedly will use the laser ignition system in some of its cars over the next couple of years, then spread the technology to the full range

 

[HHGT]

Heat will be an issue against the fiber optic glass. Insulation will be the key.

 

[MAD IN NC]

Fiber when it is "drawn from the towers" leaves the furnace at ~2,800 degrees F, before cladding is added....

I don't think heat will be the issue but the same old same old issue of trying to find a way to deliver more energy than the power available of the light spectrum though the glass will be the issue as it is always..............

 

[Shadowman]

Spark plugs giving way to lasers
The Telegraph

Say goodbye to spark plugs, a 19th century technology about to be supplanted by lasers. The U.K. paper The Telegraph reports that Ford is working with the University of Liverpool to develop a laser ignition system for internal-combustion engines. That's right: engines with frickin' lasers strapped to their heads.

The laser beam is delivered by a thin, fiber-optic cable to a focusing lens that would take up much less space than a spark plug, allowing engineers greater flexibility in designing valves and cylinders. The laser beam can be split to ignite the fuel mixture from multiple points deep in the cylinder, making for a more efficient burn than a spark plug can achieve, reducing emissions and getting better fuel economy. Another advantage to the laser system is that part of the beam can be reflected to a receiver and used to gather data on the fuel mixture and the quality of the burn.

And this isn't merely a research project, as there are working prototypes of the system at the University of Liverpool laboratory. Ford, which has eagerly been adopting fuel efficiency technology such as electric-power steering and six-speed transmissions, reportedly will use the laser ignition system in some of its cars over the next couple of years, then spread the technology to the full range

Very cool.........

Thank you for sharing this

Shadowman

 

[shelbyelite]

Not sure if anyone caught the Dr. Evil (from Austin Powers) quote in there

 

[nthfinity]

Well...Ford is pretty tight lipped about a lot of forthcoming technology. GTDI is currently how engineers are seeing as "Big engines" right now. Rest assured that they will be shrinking substantially in the coming years. Lasers would be pretty neat. But will we need to buy a new laser, or have a good means of access to cleaning the lens after x miles? A powerful enough laser, I'd assume would cost over well over 1000 $ to ignite the mixture that quickly.

 

[FordGTGuy]

Somebodies been watching Weird Science again.

 

[Cobrar]

Spark plugs giving way to lasers
The Telegraph

Say goodbye to spark plugs, a 19th century technology about to be supplanted by lasers. The U.K. paper The Telegraph reports that Ford is working with the University of Liverpool to develop a laser ignition system for internal-combustion engines. That's right: engines with frickin' lasers strapped to their heads.

The laser beam is delivered by a thin, fiber-optic cable to a focusing lens that would take up much less space than a spark plug, allowing engineers greater flexibility in designing valves and cylinders. The laser beam can be split to ignite the fuel mixture from multiple points deep in the cylinder, making for a more efficient burn than a spark plug can achieve, reducing emissions and getting better fuel economy. Another advantage to the laser system is that part of the beam can be reflected to a receiver and used to gather data on the fuel mixture and the quality of the burn.

And this isn't merely a research project, as there are working prototypes of the system at the University of Liverpool laboratory. Ford, which has eagerly been adopting fuel efficiency technology such as electric-power steering and six-speed transmissions, reportedly will use the laser ignition system in some of its cars over the next couple of years, then spread the technology to the full range

They have competition - http://app.quotemedia.com/quotetools/demo/newsStoryWrapper.htm

 

[t32b]

I've asked my boys for one of these every fathers day for the past few years...

http://gizmodo.com/tag/femtosecond-laser/

It's a laser AND a spark plug. Kinda'.