Flame acceleration study using obstacles and its application in spark-ignition engines

Burn rate in homogeneous premixed charges can be enhanced by flame acceleration caused by turbulence generated in the flow field and distortion of the flame front, by placing obstacles in the path of the propagating flame front. The work presented here makes use of the above phenomenon of using obstacles to enhance burn rate in spark-ignition engines. From the evaluation of heat loss to work done ratio and from constant volume combustion bomb experiments the obstacled surface has been optimized. The applicability of the optimized surface has been demonstrated by single cylinder engine tests, the results of·which show improvement in engine performance and has been compared with published data of a commercial I.D.I. engine.