An end pumped passively Q-switched laser igniter was developed to meet the ignition system needs of large bore lean burn stationary natural gas engines. The laser spark plug used an optical fiber coupled diode pump source to axially pump a passively Q-switched Nd:YAG laser and transmit the laser pulse through a custom designed lens. The optical fiber coupled pump source permits the excitation energy to be transmitted to the spark plug at relatively low optical power, less than 250 watts. The Q-switched laser then generates as much as 8 millijoules of light in 2.5 nanoseconds which is focused through an asymmetric biconvex lens to create a laser spark from a focused intensity of approximately 225 GW/cm2. A single cylinder engine fueled with either natural gas only or hydrogen augmented natural gas was operated with the laser spark plug for approximately 10 hours in tests spanning 4 days. The tests were conducted with fixed engine speed, fixed boost pressure, no exhaust gas recirculation, and laser spark timing advance set at maximum brake torque timing. Engine operational and emissions data were collected and analyzed.
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ASME 2009 Internal Combustion Engine Division Spring Technical Conference
May 3–6, 2009
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
Conference Sponsors:
- Internal Combustion Engine Division
ISBN:
978-0-7918-4340-6
PROCEEDINGS PAPER
Lean-Burn Stationary Natural Gas Reciprocating Engine Operation With a Prototype Fiber Coupled Diode End Pumped Passively Q-Switched Laser Spark Plug Available to Purchase
Dustin L. McIntyre,
Dustin L. McIntyre
National Energy Technology Laboratory, Morgantown, WV
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Steven D. Woodruff,
Steven D. Woodruff
National Energy Technology Laboratory, Morgantown, WV
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John S. Ontko
John S. Ontko
National Energy Technology Laboratory, Morgantown, WV
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Dustin L. McIntyre
National Energy Technology Laboratory, Morgantown, WV
Steven D. Woodruff
National Energy Technology Laboratory, Morgantown, WV
John S. Ontko
National Energy Technology Laboratory, Morgantown, WV
Paper No:
ICES2009-76013, pp. 11-19; 9 pages
Published Online:
August 20, 2009
Citation
McIntyre, DL, Woodruff, SD, & Ontko, JS. "Lean-Burn Stationary Natural Gas Reciprocating Engine Operation With a Prototype Fiber Coupled Diode End Pumped Passively Q-Switched Laser Spark Plug." Proceedings of the ASME 2009 Internal Combustion Engine Division Spring Technical Conference. ASME 2009 Internal Combustion Engine Division Spring Technical Conference. Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. May 3–6, 2009. pp. 11-19. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/ICES2009-76013
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