Spark discharge ignition process in a spark-ignition engine using a time series of spectra measurements

Abstract The spark discharge ignition process was investigated using simultaneous temperature measurements of the spark discharges and the initial flame kernel. We were able for the first time to measure a time series of emission spectra from the spark discharge and initial flame kernel inside a spark-ignition engine using a spectrometer coupled with a spark plug and optical fiber. The plasma vibrational temperature of the spark discharge can be measured using time series emission spectra from the electrically excited CN * violet band system. The gas rotational temperature of the initial flame kernel can also be measured using emission spectra from OH * radicals (P and R branches). Simultaneously, visualization of the spark discharge and a time series of emission spectra inside a spark-ignition engine were performed under homogeneous mixture conditions, to eliminate the effects of stratification of temperature and mixture concentrations around the spark plug. We discuss thermal energy transfer from the spark discharge to the combustible mixture. The main conclusions that can be drawn from this study are as follows. CN * emission can be detected from the spark discharge, visualized using a high-speed camera during the arc discharge phase. Our results confirmed that the plasma temperature of the spark discharge was nearly 6800 K and that thermal energy was transferred from the spark plasma channel to the combustible mixture. The gas temperature of the initial flame kernel approached that of the adiabatic flame temperature.