Ignition System Based on the Nanosecond Pulsed Discharge

A new design of the compact nanosecond pulse generator based of the drift step recovery diodes as an ignition system for internal combustion engines (ICEs) has been presented. Experimental results of the comparative analysis of the standard ignition system and an ignition system on the basis of the nanosecond pulsed discharge for the four-cylinder ICE have been presented. It was shown that a nonequilibrium plasma formed by the discharge was an effective way to reduce the specific fuel consumption as well as the concentration of nitrogen oxides in the engine exhaust gases. A numerical analysis of possible mechanisms of the nonequilibrium plasma influence on the suppression of the nitrogen oxides formation has been carried out.