LASERS LIGHT THE WAY IN LIVERPOOL

July 18, 2009
By Eddie Cunningham

The familiar sound of cars failing to start in cold weather could become a thing of the past now that scientists have developed lasers to replace spark plugs.

Scientists at Liverpool University and engineers at Ford - among several institutions worldwide - have developed an ignition system that uses focused laser beams to ignite fuel more reliably and efficiently than a spark plug.

Ford wants the lasers in its top-end cars within the next few years.

Project leader Tom Shenton said: "We are running engines with the system every day in our laboratory. Lasers can be focused and split into multiple beams to give multiple ignition points, which means it can give a far better chance of ignition.

“This can really improve the performance of the engine when it is cold, the time when around 80 percent of exhaust emissions are produced and the engine is at its least efficient.

“The laser also produces more stable combustion so you need to put less fuel into the cylinder.”

A spark plug is usually at the top or bottom of a cylinder and can fail to ignite fuel effectively.

The laser 'spark' is an intese pinprick of light powered by the car's battery and created by lenses focussing laser beams sent along optical fibres.

The researchers say the laser will need to fire more than 50 times per second to produce 3000rpm but will require less power than a spark plug. - Irish Independent