Advanced ignition system promises fuel efficiency improvements

Federal-Mogul says system delivered up to 10% fuel efficiency improvements during development testing

Federal-Mogul has developed an advanced ignition system that it says has delivered up to 10% fuel efficiency improvements over standard spark ignition during development testing.

The Advanced Corona Ignition System (ACIS) creates a significantly larger high-intensity plasma ignition source, spread throughout the combustion chamber, when compared to conventional spark ignition systems. The company says the ACIS technology provides more thorough combustion and enables advanced combustion strategies like lean burn, highly diluted mixtures and very high exhaust gas recirculation, further increasing fuel efficiency.

ACIS uses a high-energy, high-frequency electrical field to produce repeatable, controlled ionization, creating multiple streams of ions to ignite the fuel mixture throughout the combustion chamber, whereas conventional spark ignition creates only a small arc in the gap between the electrodes of a spark plug. The technology also allows for optimised timing of the start of combustion versus conventional ignition systems. ACIS generates rapid ignition and quick burning, ensuring greater conversion of the fuel energy to mechanical energy with the added potential for simultaneous reduction in engine cooling requirements, says Federal-Mogul.

Kristapher Mixell, Federal-Mogul’s director of advanced corona ignition system development, says that customer testing is demonstrating that the improvements to fuel economy and CO2 emissions are at levels unachievable with spark ignition. He says: “We have already recorded fuel consumption improvements of up to 10% on a 1.6-litre turbocharged gasoline direct injection engine, and there is potential for further improvements.”

ACIS can be used in high-volume applications for both current and future powertrain architectures by designing it to package within the space of a spark-ignition system. The “two-piece” igniter architecture allows engine manufacturers the ability to replace traditional coil and plug systems with no adverse impact on engine design or assembly.

Eliminating the spark plug and its arc, ACIS removes the source of electrode erosion—the main cause of wear in a conventional spark-ignition system. This prolongs ignition system durability and extends service intervals. ACIS also uses materials that are already proven in automotive applications to ensure durability throughout the designed service life, says the firm.