News Lasers could replace spark plugs in car engines

[tl8]

I wonder if they'll make "Hot" and "Cold" variants, as they did/do? for spark-plugs?

http://www.dansmc.com/sparkplugs1.htm

N.

Well, I would expect there would be "feature" differences. As the article says, the power can be adjusted for difference air/fuel mixes and hence make the hot/cold variants irrelevant.

 

[Ghostrider]

Of course this is likely going to be one of those inventions that takes a decade before it comes down from Formula 1 or NASCAR.

Competitive sports are one big drive for tech innovation (less so than warfare but hey, who's complaining) so I believe this stuff will surface on F1 cars as soon as the regs allow them. F1 teams would use radiation-enhanced devices as spark plugs if they thought it could give them an edge...

 

[orbekler]

"Lasers could replace spark plugs in car engines":huh:
Well, we could say:
That's one small step for a spark; one VERY small leap for mankind...

 

[Zachstar]

I doubt it would be a small leap

You would not believe just how much gas gets accepted as wasted. Better combustion would massively increase power and engine life. Not to mention efficiency.

 

[Eli13]

Either way, this would be a expensive fix (at least more expensive than a normal spark plug) then again, if it is as fuel efficient as it says it may outweigh that. Its interesting though.

 

[Zachstar]

Either way, this would be a expensive fix (at least more expensive than a normal spark plug) then again, if it is as fuel efficient as it says it may outweigh that. Its interesting though.

Depends on the car. Don't forget about incomplete combustion products soiling up engines as well. A cleaner better tuned engine will last far longer and these days often engine out means car out.

 

[orbekler]

I doubt it would be a small leap

You would not believe just how much gas gets accepted as wasted. Better combustion would massively increase power and engine life. Not to mention efficiency.

More then electronic or LED lamps? Even these, largely used today, are not changing radically our life, as inflation and costs are increasing day by day (inversely proportional to wages...).

 

[T.Neo]

Really? I have a LED torch that really helps me save money on batteries...

 

[Wishbone]

Umm, a LED torch is a nice invention, but doubt you spent more than 1 per cent of your yearly income on batteries. Washing machines have had larger impact, btw.

Going back to the original topic: if laser igniters are used in hypersonic engines, why not try them in more mundane settings. At least there's no reason not to attempt it.

 

[orbekler]

Really? I have a LED torch that really helps me save money on batteries...

I suppose it's ironical... Of course, I don't have A LED torch, I have MANY LED torches, and I'm going to replace standard home lights with LED panels. Still... see below.

Umm, a LED torch is a nice invention, but doubt you spent more than 1 per cent of your yearly income on batteries. Washing machines have had larger impact, btw.

That's the point, THESE are the wastes that are corcening me...

Going back to the original topic: if laser igniters are used in hypersonic engines, why not try them in more mundane settings. At least there's no reason not to attempt it.

I agree. But it would like the changeover from cigarettes without filter to cigarettes with filter. Smoke is smoke. Just a little little little less dangerous. For laser ignitors, just a little little little higher in efficiency.
BTW, is someone able to say exactly how the (poor fossil fuel) efficiency will increase? 1%, 2%, 10%?

 

[Eccentrus]

If algae are in your food supply, suffice to say, you have problems supplying food (or you're trying to run a closed ecological system aboard a spacecraft).

:shrug: what about the Japanese then? And we all know that most agars are derived from algae.

 

[T.Neo]

what about the Japanese then? And we all know that most agars are derived from algae.

People in Japan subsist on a meagre diet of algal slime only? I did not know this...

And who has a staple diet of agar?