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14-08-2009, 11:02 PM | #1 | ||
Clevo Mafia Inc.
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 10,496
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Start your car with a laser to cut your carbon
Engineers at the University of Liverpool, working with the Ford Motor Company, have received a £198,910 grant from the Carbon Trust to develop a laser ignition system which could cut car exhaust emissions. Transport accounts for 25% of UK carbon emissions so finding new ways of making automotive engines less polluting is vital to meet the UK’s carbon reduction targets. Replacing conventional spark ignition with laser ignition enables much greater control over the combustion of the air and fuel mix and can cut a car’s carbon emissions in a number of ways. Unlike the venerable sparkplug ignition system, which fires just one or at best two sparks right next to the combustion chamber roof, it is possible to ‘aim’ a laser ignition system to ignite the fuel anywhere in the combustion chamber, therefore focusing the beam where the fuel is most concentrated. By using ultra-fast computing to direct the laser, the engine can be run on a much more efficient or ‘leaner’ fuel/air mixture, which would directly cut a car’s carbon emissions. This heightened control also helps overcome the poor cold-start performance of engines running high blends of biofuels. The The The laser beam can be delivered to the combustion chamber through a thin fibre optic cable, taking up less space than the spark plug, making room for larger diameter valves, enabling better combustion through more efficient gas flow through the engine. s carbon emissions targets. Laser ignition is a really exciting technology because it improves the efficiency of petrol cars and could, in the future, speed the uptake of cars run on biofuelved fromd from sustainable organic materials such as algae.” Dr Tom Shenton, in Engin Engineering at the University of Liverpool and Principal Investigator on the project, said: “The key to reducing emissions in the sparived engine ig imprs improved control, and for the last one hundred years theer in ns ofans it ignition control has been the spark plug. With laser ignition we now have an exciting new alternative which will give much greater scope for engine controller optimisation and the implementation of new engine designs.” http://www.carbontrust.co.uk/News/pr...laser_tech.htm http://www.liv.ac.uk/researchintelli...erignition.htm Test results Above: Firing a laser beam through the optical spark plug produces a bigger and more intense spark (top) than a conventional spark plug connected to a high-tension lead (bottom). Above: This can be seen much more clearly when photographed in the dark. I like the fact the laser can be split and aimed at the most efficient combustion area, lean burn technology is win win as far as power and economy goes. Last edited by Falcon Coupe; 14-08-2009 at 11:15 PM. Reason: typo |
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14-08-2009, 11:14 PM | #2 | ||
Critical Thinker
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 20,375
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bring it on. Could this also mean more efficient power with better fuel economy at the same time?
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"the greatest trick the devil pulled, is convincing the world he doesn't exist" 2022 Mazda CX5 GTSP Turbo 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Highlander 1967 XR FALCON 500 Cars previously owned: 2021 Subaru Outback Sport 2018 Subaru XV-S 2012 Subaru Forester X 2007 Subaru Liberty GT 2001 AU2 75th Anniversary Futura 2001 Subaru GX wagon 1991 EB XR8 1977 XC Fairmont 1990 EA S Pak 1984 XE S Pak 1982 ZJ Fairlane 1983 XE Fairmont 1989 EA Falcon 1984 Datsun Bluebird Wagon 1975 Honda Civic |
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14-08-2009, 11:17 PM | #3 | ||
Clevo Mafia Inc.
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 10,496
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Thats the way i understand it. More room for bigger valves and better combustion efficiency sounds great.
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14-08-2009, 11:29 PM | #4 | ||
You dig, we stick!
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 7,461
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Good find.
The second link is the one to read.
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"....You don't put the car through engineering" - Rod Barrett. |
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15-08-2009, 12:09 AM | #5 | ||
Clevo Mafia Inc.
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 10,496
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I think i found the secret financier of the project:
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15-08-2009, 11:54 AM | #6 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 510
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"Frickin' lasers" That is GOLD.
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Daily: AU1 Fairmont Ghia - 380,000 km (still going strong)
Weekender: 2009 G6ETurbo - 21,656 km - Seduce/Cashmere (The only shopping list I need: 4 Litres and a hairdryer) Daily: SZII - 56,000 km - converted to Tezza |
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15-08-2009, 01:27 PM | #7 | ||
Critical Thinker
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 20,375
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LOL @ Dr. Evil :dr_Evil:
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"the greatest trick the devil pulled, is convincing the world he doesn't exist" 2022 Mazda CX5 GTSP Turbo 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Highlander 1967 XR FALCON 500 Cars previously owned: 2021 Subaru Outback Sport 2018 Subaru XV-S 2012 Subaru Forester X 2007 Subaru Liberty GT 2001 AU2 75th Anniversary Futura 2001 Subaru GX wagon 1991 EB XR8 1977 XC Fairmont 1990 EA S Pak 1984 XE S Pak 1982 ZJ Fairlane 1983 XE Fairmont 1989 EA Falcon 1984 Datsun Bluebird Wagon 1975 Honda Civic |
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15-08-2009, 03:48 PM | #8 | ||
Compulsive Hobbiest
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Ohio, USA
Posts: 1,032
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I wonder if it is cheaper if I provide my own flux capacitor?
Steve
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My Filmmaking Career Website Latest Project: Musclin' My XB Interceptor project Wife's 1966 Mustang My Artworks and Creative Projects Site Oil Paintings, Airbrushing, Metal Sculpture, Custom Cars, Replica Movie Props, Videos, and more! |
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