Ignition system

Generations - Overview

Introduction

Ignition System Requirements

Generation - 1 Ignition System:
Distributor Type Ignition Components Ignition Advancement Types TAC Ignition system CDI

Genration 2 -Electronic Ignition System:

Generation 3 & 4 - Electronic System:

Distributorless ignition system Electronic Ignition

Limitations of point contact system

Advantages of Electronic ignition

Contents

Purpose:

To supply a spark inside the cylinder near the end of compression stroke, to ignite the compressed charge of airfuel mixture.

Requirements:

Provide sufficient voltage

Provide sufficient energy under all operating conditions. Able vary the ignition timing as e/g speed, load and other conditions change.

Introduction

Typical Voltage:
Min 10kV ~ Max. 20kV

Spark energy:
To be sufficient to produce voltage at High Temperature It should have sufficient Heat for burning At Warmed up condition, Min.0.1 mJ/spark upto max.50 mJ/Spark (Lean burn,Cold start,etc)

Discharge time
Min: 0.1ms ~ 0.5ms

Introduction

When to Give Spark:

How early or late: Depends on Cylinder Pressure & A/F Mixture Quality/Quantity Timing Advance : When the plug fires sooner on compression (High engine speed)

Timing Retard :When plug fires later on compression stroke (Lower engine speed)
Ignition timing must change with the changes in engine speed, load, and temperature.

Ignition Timing

Timing the Ignition:

If start of combustion is too early work is done against piston and if too late then peak pressure is reduced.

The optimum spark timing that gives the maximum brake torque, called MBT timing occurs when these two opposite factors cancel.

Ignition Timing

An Ignition System Consists of

Coil Ignition System Distributorless

Waste spark (DDLi) Individual coil for each cyl. Stick coil (SDLi)-Coil on plug.

Distributor
Point contact Electronic advance Coil

Ignition System

Coil Ignition System also known as Battery Ignition System Which replaces the Magneto Ignitied Engine in Early 1920s This is base for the Modern Ignition System development

Types of Ignition system

Layout of Coil Ignition System

COIL IGNTION SYSTEM:

Ignition Circuits

Battery- supplies electrical energy to the primary windings creating a magnetic field around them. Ignition switch - to open or close the primary circuit when the key is turned off or on.

Conductors - to electrically connect the primary circuit components.

Contace Points Cam Operated Switch
make and break the primary circuit.

- When points are closed a magnetic field is built up is in the coil primary windings.
-When the points open the magnetic field in the primary windings collapses. - This induces a high voltage in the secondary windings.

Primary circuit

Called as Pulse Generator:

Acts as a step up transformer. It takes low voltage high current and converts it to high voltage low current. At center is a Laminated Iron Core Primary windings approx. 200 windings of 20 gauge wire Secondary windings approx. 20,000 windings of 40 gauge wire. Separated by Layer of varnished paper for Improve Insulation

Ignition Coil Construction

Secondary coil: it produces high voltage by mutual inductance in the coil High tension Leads: Responsible for getting the electricity from the coil to the cap & plugs. Distributor cap and Rotor: Distribute the high voltage to the spark plug as per firing order. Spark plug: Produces spark with sufficient energy to ignite the combustible mixture in the cylinder.

Secondary circuit

Cam actuated Switch No. Of Lobes on cam = No of Cylinder Points made of Tungston steel alloy. (Resists Electrical burning) Spark plug: Produces spark with sufficient energy to ignite the combustible mixture in the cylinder.

Contact Breaker

Distributor Operation:

Condenser/capacitor :
- Has the ability to store electrical energy. -It can absorb or retain surges of electricity.

-It is required when the points first open to absorb the voltage surge caused by self induction.
Approx. 200-300 volts -The condenser helps the primary magnetic field collapse very rapidly, thus giving a strong secondary voltage. -A defective condenser can cause premature point failure or poor engine performance. - It provides a temporary holding spot for electrical surges.

Condensor/capacitor

Dwell: Angle moved by cam during contacts closed period Dwell is stated in % dwell.

Dwell = Dwell angle/ Phase angle *100 Phase angle = t

point open point close+

Phase angle = 360 / No of Cylinder

Points made of Tungston steel alloy. (Resists Electrical burning)

Dwell control:

Types Ignition Advance:

Centrifugal Vacuum

Ignition Timing Advance control

Distributor Centrifugal Advance

Controlled by engine speed. Consists of two weights and two springs. At high speeds the weights fly out(held by the springs), rotating the cam, hence advancing the timing.

Methods of controlling Advance

Vacuum Advance Controlled by engine intake manifold vacuum and engine load. The vacuum diaphragm rotates the Contact points against the direction of distributor shaft rotation.

Methods of controlling Timing

TAC system (Transistor assisted Contacts) Uses a normal mechanical breaker to drive transistor. Used a low Inductive coil Transistor performed the duty of Breaker to Make / break the primary circuit

Gneration-2

Advantage: Gives Long spark to burn lean mixtures Gives Quicker break of the circuit Maintins good coil output. Application: Racing, High speed Engines

Further Highspeed engine required

To provide a high energy Give very short and Fast Ignition multiple spark discharge to burn lean mixture Efficient circuitry for minimum heat generation

CDI SOLUTION

 Inductive discharge (Transistor Controlled Ignitions) systems are very simple in design requiring only one energy storage element.
Capacitive Discharge Ignition systems work by storing energy in an external capacitor, which is then discharged into the ignition coil primary winding when required. This rate of discharge is much higher than that found in inductive systems, and causes a corresponding increase in the rate of voltage rise in the secondary coil winding. This faster voltage rise in the secondary winding creates a spark that can allow combustion in an engine that has excess oil or an over rich fuel air mixture in the combustion chamber. Controlled CDI are used in high speed engines.

CDI

 The spark duration is smaller than TCI. The later semiconductor technologies, have provided the inductive discharge ignition systems with comparable CDI spark rise times, energy . The issues of reliability and cost become more significant for coil-over-plug (DIS - direct igntion systems) when considering a CDI versus a TCI ignition system, thus favoring TCI.

CDI vs TCI

Position of the individual cylinder is determined with the help of rotor and sensor. Point contact circuit breaker is removed Based on this signal ECU sends timely signal to transistor switch which controls current through primary coil i.e. dwell time and ignition timing.

Distributor with electronic advance

Generation 3 & 4 Ignition System

Cont.

Distributorless Ignition system

Strong +

Weak

Less moving parts. Uses multiple ignition coils. No Distributor. Camshaft position sensor is installed in place of ignition distributor. ECM fires two plugs at the same time. Spark plug wear is more Polarity at both spark plug is opposite Almost similar discharge voltage as distributor type

Crank position sensor or Cam position sensor for determination of position of piston in each of the cylinders Dwell time based on engine rpm and battery voltage Ignition timing- Calculated from various operating conditions idle, running, accelaration, fuelcut recovery

Inputs

Dwell time:With inductive ignition systems the time taken to charge the ignition coil is called the Dwell'. This dwell can be increased or decreased for differing engine applications. If longer spark duration is required to improve combustion of lean mixtures or engines with large cylinders the dwell time is increased, inputting more energy into the primary coil. Dwell time is decreased when there is more than enough spark energy to combust the mixture, this decrease will reduce spark plug wear, therefore increase spark plug life. Longer dwell time can also increase coil heating which can reduce coil life.

Dwell time

Electronic Advance Sensors input influences the ignition timing.

Crank shaft Position Sensor and rotor Tells position and speed (rpm) Cam Position Sensor and rotor Tells position and speed (rpm) Manifold Absolute Pressure (MAP) Engine load

Ignition Timing

Electronic Advance Sensors input influences the ignition timing.

Intake Air Temperature Sensor Knock Sensor (Retards timing when pinging or knocking is sensed) Throttle Position Sensor(TPS) Engine coolant Temperature

Ignition timing

Direct ignition system

The driver circuit and ignition coil is integrated into one assembly. Better packaging Each cylinder has its own coil. Reduced electrical interference High Energy Low spark plug wear. Stronger spark voltage

Direct ignition sytem

Spark plug construction

Heat Range Gap Electrode material Voltage

Spark Plug Specification

Advantage of distributorless ignition

No moving parts Cylinders individually controlled Longer parts life Flexible mounting locations Less radio frequency interference No timing adjustments More time for coil saturation

 The ignition system supplies high voltage to ignite the air/fuel mixture. The arrival of the spark is timed to coincide near the compression stroke of the piston. The ignition system has two interconnected electrical circuits: a primary circuit and a secondary circuit.

Summary

 The distributor may house the primary switching device plus centrifugal or vacuum timing advance mechanisms. The secondary circuit carries high voltage surges to the spark plugs. Ignition timing is directly related to the position of the crankshaft.

Summary

 Computer-controlled ignition eliminates the need for centrifugal and vacuum timing mechanisms. Nearly all of todays engines are equipped with an Electronic Ignition system, which does not use a distributor.

There are primarily two different designs of Distributorless systems, coil-on-plug and waste spark.

Summary