Mailing List lml@lancaironline.net Message #27885
From: Craig Berland <cberland@systems3.net>
Sender: Marvin Kaye <marv@lancaironline.net>
Subject: [LML] Re: Plugs and Mags for IVP
Date: Wed, 26 Jan 2005 11:58:29 -0500
To: <lml@lancaironline.net>
Walter, as long as the discussion/argument remains non-personal, I enjoy and learn. With that said:
 
... don't diminish the effects of a good ignition system. Poor plugs, bad wires, worn out mag (even hotter spark) all can make a significant affect for the same reason the RPM drops on one mag vs both.

Your comments are correct except for the reason the rpm drops on one mag. EGT rises on one mag because the total burn time is almost half as much as with two plugs. The rpm drops because the thetaPP becomes excessive.
 
Walter, that is correct. The problem here is you do not buy into the ignition system performance does affect angle of peak pressure.  The data I have is viewing very high speed video thru a quartz combustion chamber. As in everything related to the IC engine, there are numerous aspects that affect performance and one cannot be ignored while evaluating another.
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The idea is to have as fast of combustion as possible without it being an explosion (non controlled combustion).

No, the speed of the flame front is determined by the bulk gas temperature and the internal cylinder pressure. We do not want it as fast as it can be.
 
Yes it is so.  I think you are viewing this as one working on an existing engine and I view it as one designing a new engine (my background).  My position more clearly stated is...An engine design that has faster burn will perform better than one with slower burn. (let's say an engine with peak torque at 18 deg BTC will be less sensitive to detonation and will have a higher BMEP and lower BSFC than engine with peak torque at 24 deg BTC.
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With 2 flame fronts (two spark plugs per cylinder) the combustion time is greatly reduced and therefore power is increased and BSFC is reduced (fuel economy is improved).

No, power is not increased as a result of two flame fronts. The total burn time is shorter, yes, but that is calculated for in the timing choice. It is quite possible to go to one mag and INCREASE the power output. If you takeoff on one mag in almost all of these GA engines, power output will be higher because the thetaPP will move away from TDC closer to 16˚ ATDC where power is at max from mechanical advantage of the crank. Frankly BSFC does not come into play here, and that's a whole 'nuther discussion I don't want to get into in this post.
I will accept the INCREASE as true, but I find it as very surprising.  However, this can only be explained by the ignition timing is not correct/optimum for dual ignition at take off RPM's. ???
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This post has become to long.....relative to octane....don't confuse the issue by varying timing and octane together....as you pointed out the latency period of 130 octane fuel is longer. This requires the timing to be advanced to produce the same angle of peak pressure (thetaPP) This can not be done in general aircraft real time. My point was...if the timing was optimized for 100 octane fuel, then there would be a power loss with 130 octane fuel. Finally, a meaningless bit of trivia, diesel fuel has more BTU's per gallon than gasoline.
Regards,
Craig Berland
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