• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.59-65
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• 1993

In a spark ignition engine, in order to make research on flame propagation, attentive concentration should be paid on initial combustion stage about the formation and development of flame. In addition, the initial stage of combustion governs overall combustion period in a spark ignition engine. With the increase of the size of flame kernel, it could reach initial flame stage easily, and the mixture could proceed to the combustion of stabilized state. Therefore, we must study the theoretical calculation of minimum flame kernel radius which effects on the formation and development of kernel. To calculate the minimum flame kernel radius, we must know the thermal conductivity, flame temperature, laminar burning velocity and etc. The thermal conductivity is derived from the molecular kinetic theory, the flame temperature from the chemical reaction equations and the laminar burning velocity from the D.K.Kuehl's formula. In order to estimate the correctness of the theoretically calculated minimum flame kernel radius, the researcheres compared it with the RMaly's experimental values.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.7 no.8
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• pp.24-33
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• 1999

This paper investigate the effects of the variations of engine operation condition in the flame kernel formation and developmnet . A model for calculating the initial kernel development in spark ignition engines is formualted. It considered input of electrical energy, combustion energy release and heat transfer to the spark plyg, cylinder head, and unburned mixture. The model also takes into accounts strain rate of initial kernel and residual gas fraction. The breakdown process and the subsequent electrical power input initially control the kernel growth while intermediate growth is mainly dominated by diffusion or conduction. Then, the flame propagates by the chemical energy and turbulent flame expansion. Flame kernel development also influenced by engine operating conditions, for example, EGR rate, air-fuel ration and intake manifold pressure.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.288-298
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• 1999

In spark ignited engines, the electrical spark not only sets the time for the onset of combustion but also is able to greatly influence the character of the initial flame growth and the subsequent combustion, and thereby can influence engine performance. The relative importance of the ignition energy is particularly high under lean or high residual gas or exhaust gas recirculation (EGR). In this study, a modeling of flame Initiation and its development is proposed. Submodels consist in representing of cylinder pressure and temperature, heat transfer to cylinder wall, and flame kernel heat transfer to ambient air and to spark plug electrodes. The breakdown process and the subsequent electrical power input initially control the kernel growth while intermediate growth is mainly dominated by diffusion or conduction. Then, the flame propagates by the chemical energy, and laminar and turbulent flame velocity.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.1701-1709
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• 1997

The diagnostic used to observe the early flame development was a fiber optic spark plug, which enabled measurement of the flame front arrival times on a cycle-to-cycle basis. The data obtained with this fiber optic spark plug were analyzed to obtain two parameters to describe the behavior of the flame kernel : an expansion speed and a convection velocity. In addition, synchronized cylinder pressure data were taken to compare with the fiber optic spark plug data on a cyclic basis. Heat release analysis was performed on the cylinder pressure data to obtain the mass burning profile of the charge for each cycle. There was a significant correlation observed in the initial flame duration and the kernel expansion speed with dwell angle.

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.829-838
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• 2002

A constant volume combustion chamber is used to investigate the flame kernel development of gasoline air mixtures under various ignition systems, ignition energies and spark plugs. Three kinds of ignition systems are designed and assembled, and the ignition energy is controlled by the variation of the dwell time. Several kinds of spark plugs are also tested. The velocity of flame propagation is measured by a laser deflection method, and the combustion pressure is analyzed by the heat release rate and the mass fraction burnt. The results represent that as the ignition energy is increased by enlarging either dwell time or spark plug gap, the heat release rate and the mass fraction burnt are increased. The electrodes materials and shapes influence the flame kernel development by changing he transfer efficiency of electrical energy to chemical energy. The diameter of electrodes also influences the heat release rate and the burnt mass fraction.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.3 no.6
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• pp.274-284
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• 1995

The effect of turbulence and ignition energy on flame kernel growth in mathanol-air mixtures has been studied in a constant volume vessel. Experiments were made under different turbulent intensity conditions, ignition energy and over a range of equivalence ratio. Characteristics of turbulent flow were grasped by measurments of gas pressure and visualization of flame propagation. Flow velocity was measured by use of hot wire anemometer. A comparison of the effect of turbulence on ignition probability and flame kernel volume variation ratio is also presented.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.45-56
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• 2001

A constant volume combustion chamber is employed to investigate the initial flame kernel development and flame propagation of gasoline-air mixtures with various ignition systems, ignition energy and spark plug electrodes. To do this research, four ignition systems are designed and manufactured, and the ignition energy is controlled by varying the dwell time. Several kinds of spark plugs are also made to analyze the effects of electrodes on flame kernel development. The velocity of flame propagation is measured by the laser deflection method. The output laser beam from He-Ne laser is divided into three parallel beams by a beam splitter. The splitted beams pass through the combustion chamber. They are deflected when contacted with flame front, and the voltage signals from photodiodes change due to deflection. The results show that higher ignition energy raises the flame propagation speed especially under the fuel lean operation. The wider electrode gap, smaller electrode diameter and sharper electrode tip make the speed of the initial flame propagation faster. The speed of the initial flame propagation is affected by electrode material as well. Electrode material with lower melting temperature help the initial flame propagation.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.54-64
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• 1995

The effects of swirl on early flame development and late combustion characteristic were investigated using a high speed single-shot visualized 51 engine. LDV measurements were performed to get better understanding of the flow field in this combustion chamber. Spark plugs were located at half radius (R/2) and central location of bore. High speed schlieren photographs at 20,000 frames/sec were taken to visualize the detailed formation and development of the flame kernel with cylinder pressure measurements. This study showed that high swirl gave favorable effects on combustion-related performances in terms of the maximum cylinder pressure and flame growth rate regardless of spark position. However, at R/2 ignition the low swirl shown desirable effects at low engine speed gave worse performances as engine speed increased than without swirl. There were distinct signs of slow-down in flame growth during the period when the flame front expanded from 2.5mm in radius until it reached 5.0mm apparently due to the presence of ground electrode. There seemed to be heat transfer effect on the flame expansion speed which was evidenced in high swirl case by the slowdown of the late flame front presumably caused by relatively large heat loss from burned gas to wall compared with low- or no-swirl cases.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.50-53
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• 2001

Flame propagation during the initial stages of ignition in a non-premixed swirl, having some of characteristics of the primary zone of an aero gas turbine combustor, has been investigated. Nd:YAG laser was adopted as the principal ignition source to allow arbitrary placing of the ignition site i subsequent flame development was monitored using a natural light high speed filming technique for many ignition site at two different swirl ratios and an overall equivalence ratio of 0.9. For ignition offset from the burner centreline, buoyancy force associated with radial pressure gradient produced a strong inward movement of the flame kernel. At the burner exit. flame kernels invariably developed into cylindrical form and a 'radial confinement /axia expansion' (RCAE) process was observed.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.24 no.11
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• pp.1486-1496
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• 2000

The initial flame kernel development and flame propagation in a constant volume combustion chamber is analyzed by the heat release rate and the mass fraction burnt. The combustion pressure is measured with a piezoelectric type pressure sensor. In order to evaluate the effects of ignition system and ignition energy on the flame propagation, four different ignition systems are designed and tested, and the ignition energy is varied by the dwell time. Several different spark plugs are also tested and examined to analysis the effects of electrodes on flame kernel development. The results show that the when the dwell time is increased, and when the spark plug gap is extended, heat release rate and the mass burnt fraction are increased. The materials and shapes of electrodes affect the flame development, because they change the energy transfer efficiency from electrical energy to chemical energy. The diameter of electrodes influences not only the heat release rate but also the mass burnt fraction as well.