Engine instrumentation and data analysis for ignition system testing

The charge ignition system is used to ignite the fuel-air mixture in the combustion chamber of a spark ignited internal combustion engine and is the subject of many ongoing research projects. As a means to quantify the performance of an ignition system, a 16 horsepower Briggs and Stratton V-twin engine has been instrumented and the necessary data analysis software developed. This test engine was used to monitor the performance of three different ignition sources. When the performance of these ignition sources was analyzed using the test engine, the differences in performance of the systems was evident in the calculated values for the engine's exhaust temperature, specific fuel consumption, indicated mean effective pressure, and fuel conversion efficiency. The test engine also provided pressure versus volume traces, which provide a visual representation of the poor combustion caused by inadequate ignition sources.