The end of the spark plug?

[multijoy]

T'article

The interesting stuff is down towards the bottom, but the long & short is that researchers have managed to run a 4 cylinder research engine using laser ignition rather than spark plugs. The principle to the engine remains the same, but the spark is significantly larger and would allow the engine to run with a much leaner mixture. You'd also lose the HT run to the cylinders.

It remains to be seen whether you'll be able to bump start it, and whether potential blindness is preferable to HT shocks when fettling...

[edited for added typos!]
____________________
'11 CBF1000A, '99 C90, '98 CB500
silky666: He rode amazingly well considering his bike is the weight of a small van and had slicks on.

[D O G]

When the laser failed, that would be it tho - all four cylinders would stop. Suspect it would go from working properly to total failure - unlike plugs which degrade.

Definitely has other benefits though.

[baldy]

What happens when you get a carbon build up on the laser?

[Timmeh]

[Mr Hammers]

I doubt holding a laser in the palm of your hand will be as effective as a spark plug in a good streetfight.
____________________
A Guide To Powerbands

[baldy]

How will people piss the missus of instead of asking her to hold the plug while you crank it over?

I don't think a laser will be as argument inducing as a plug.

[Wilson123]

Interesting.
____________________
Doug97 wrote: Fuck you, what they did was awesome. You just wish you had the balls to be like them, instead of being constantly afraid that there's a rule somewhere out there you might be breaking.

[dodgydog]

[Didge]

[Mystery]

i think i would rather have a spark plug than the laser but if they work out all the tweeks then it might be worth having though, who knows
____________________
Carbon knuckles assure you maximum protect against debris and unfortunate accidents or if someone cuts you off, their side mirror.Mopeds are like chubby chicks.. they are really fun to ride until you're friends catch you on one

[EUMP]

Ahhh, interestinggg.. remote control blow things up laser
____________________
C.B.T - Expired
MOD1 04/08/10
MOD2 10/08/10

[Pussy Magnet]

they say they will do all these new high tec things but it will never happen the trusty spark plug will never be faded out!

[c_dug]

[oldbiker]

Laser ignition sounds like an interesting idea. but It will only catch on with the engine manufacturers when one of two things happens;

1, it becomes cheaper than spark plugs, or
2, some expert convinces the government that it`s a good idea.

would you still be able to take a reading from the new laser plug to check timing and mixture?
____________________
It`s all powerfull white mans magic
https://i897.photobucket.com/albums/ac178/tzrsteve/album%201/035.jpg

[stinkwheel]

[Itchy]

From an adventure biking perspective this would be good, in that you can retard or advance the ignition easily by lengthening the optical fibre or shortening it...

Hence you could get high compression engines running in low octane environments, in Russia it went down to fifty octaine,

In South America it can go down to single figures,

In central Asia octane is irrelevant its just petrol scooped out of a barrel take it or leave it.
____________________
Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[oldbiker]

[multijoy]

https://scienceblog.com/44560/laser-sparks-revolution-in-internal-combustion-engines/

An actual development, at risk of dragging the thread back from the dead!
____________________
'11 CBF1000A, '99 C90, '98 CB500
silky666: He rode amazingly well considering his bike is the weight of a small van and had slicks on.

[Glenben92]

It'll be a novelty high performance show off feature for many years before it would be considered for "proper" use. I'd prefer sparkies personally because as it's been mentioned above, laser breaks... bike stops. Plugs degrade. Even if one DID fail, you can still get home on the others
____________________
57 Huoniao HN125-8 - , 97 Kawasaki GPZ500S -
99 Yamaha FZS 600 -
Mod 2 Passed - 01/10/2010

[UnknownStuntm...]

That's great.

But I don't see where the shark goes?

[doggone]

Why can't petrol work using the diesel engine principal and ignite the mix by pressure alone?
I guess because petrol is too volatile.

[Kickstart]

[The Artist]

[John933]

[Kickstart]

Hi

Depends on the car. Do it with many modern common rail ones and you will kill the pump (time for an insurance claim).

Used to be the thing to do with diesels in winter though to avoid problems with the fuel going waxy.

All the best

Keith
____________________
Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing