Ford and the University of Liverpool are owrking on a new laser ignition system for automobiles.
Ford is teaming up with the University of Liverpool to throw out the old-school spark plugs and design a laser ignition system for internal-combustion engines. According to The Telegraph, a fiber-optic cable--powered by the car's battery--shoots the laser beam to a focusing lens that would consume a much smaller space than current spark plugs. The lenses focus the beams into an intense pinprick of light, and when the fuel is injected into the engine, the laser is fired and produces enough heat to ignite the fuel.
The University researchers claim that the new technology--using lasers to ignite the fuel--is more reliable and efficient than current spark plug technology. Although the laser will need to fire more than 50 times per second to produce 3000 RPM, it will require less power than current spark plugs. The lasers can also reflect back from inside the cylinders to relay information based on fuel type used and the level of ignition, enabling cars to readjust the quantities of air and fuel for optimum performance.
"Lasers can be focused and split into multiple beams to give multiple ignition points, which means it can give a far better chance of ignition," said Dr. Tom Shenton, leader of the project. "This can really improve the performance of the engine when it is cold, as this is the time when around 80 per cent of the exhaust emissions are produced and the engine is at is least efficient. The laser also produces more stable combustion so you need to put less fuel into the cylinder."
Ford said that it plans to implement the new technology into its top of the range vehicles within the next few years, and then make the laser ignition system available for its remaining models sometime thereafter.
On a four-stroke engine, the spark plug fires once every two rotations, not once every rotation.
It sounds cool, but also sounds like one of those science experiments that will inevitably fail.
ABS
Navi
3-point seatbelts
HID headlights
ESP
they all debuted in the s-class benz
On a four-stroke engine, the spark plug fires once every two rotations, not once every rotation.
Look at this, 100mpg 80s Mustang. He said that all it needs a one part to the car and it will bring 110 percent in mileage.
See it for yourself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsHoZPLPoq4
I believe Volvo might have installed 3-point seatbelts before Mercedes. Volvo had them in 1959. I don't disagree that Mercedes has long been a driver of automotive innovation however.
we were both wrong, sorry... it was Saab in 1958. my b.
and the rest of you people who are dinging my posts because you don't like reading the truth are pig fuckers.
I may not agree with your view on this topic, but I do like the pig fucker remark. I get a few dings from those people too.
The gasoline(or petrol, whatever your preference), will run out soon, companies with non-douchebag execs are working on electric cars(Ford is quite broke, r&d money is slim). Say what you will about the green-ness of the electricity that powers them, but gasolines days are definitely numbered. Ford refuses to make a vehicle for American markets that gets more than 30mpg, they'll create a big-a.ss hybrid SUV that gets 30mpg, but they are quite opposed to Americans getting a small, fuel-efficient vehicle(although Europeans can get a Fiesta). Own stock in oil companies much?
Yeah, but there's just one laser, and the beam is delivered by fiber optics to each cylinder. The laser is replacing the coil, not the spark plugs.
Unless it's a 2 cylinder engine, the math is still wrong.
Anyone knows how long before a typical spark plug is rendered inefficient/useless due to said problem? I wonder how long before the laser encounters the same problem/situation.
You could say that the use of laser would potentially eliminate the problem since it'll hopefully completely burn the fuel. But I'm guessing there are other sources of the problem.
? Editor please