Flame Imaging Studies of Cycle-by-Cycle Combustion Variation in a SI Four-Stroke Engine

Stephen C. Bates

doi:10.4271/892086

1989-09-01

Flame Imaging Studies of Cycle-by-Cycle Combustion Variation in a SI Four-Stroke Engine 892086

Sets of sequential-cycle instantaneous flame images are used to study cycle-by-cycle variation of lean combustion in a spark-ignition four-stroke optical engine. Stereo gated image-intensified NTSC video cameras record flame radiation to show three-dimensional structure, while flame development is measured in each cycle by super-imposing early and later flame images.

A variety of physical causes for cyclic variation are identified from the images. Correlations of flame geometry with mass burned fraction show that a larger initial flame kernel size results in a faster early burn in the cycle, and that flames that are flatter on a large scale cause lower peak burn rates than round flames. The early flame kernel is shown to vary greatly in size, shape, and location. This kernel has a major effect on combustion by setting the basic flame shape in mid-cycle. Large scale unstable flows appear to cause major cyclic variation in flame shape and combustion, an effect seen at 500 rpm, but which has disappeared at 1000 rpm.

SAE MOBILUS

Subscribers can view annotate, and download all of SAE's content. Learn More »

Access SAE MOBILUS »

Digital $37.00 Print $37.00

Preview Document

We also recommend:

Standards

SAE Mobilus®

Publications

News

Events

Professional Development

A World in Motion (PreK-12)

Participate with SAE

SAE Membership

Donate

Flame Imaging Studies of Cycle-by-Cycle Combustion Variation in a SI Four-Stroke Engine 892086

SAE MOBILUS