0AVL is an Austrian-based automotive consulting firm and independent research institute. They are well known in the automotive industry and among original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Captured by AVL using a process known as Schlieren high-speed photography, this video shows Pulstar’s 5MW pulse followed by the plasma affected fuel mixture burning at an increased rate compared to conventional spark plug. Filmed at 64,000 frames-per-second, this independent third-party test shows a side-by-side comparison of Pulstar and the top-selling premium iridium spark plug.
A quartz engine cylinder was implemented to video the combustion process in dynamic engine operation. The transparent engine, developed by AVL, allows for visual dynamic analysis of a spark ignited engine in operation. The actual ignition event, initial flame kernel and combustion propagation through 50% of the fuel charge can be seen. The state of the art testing platform featured an engine with a sweep volume of 500cc and utilized turbo charging, valve phasing, and direct injection. The test planned to determine if plasma created by the Pulstar Spark Plugs initiated combustion more consistently cycle-to-cycle and/or reduced the 0-50% mass fractional burn (MFB). A shorter 0-50% MFB as a result of more consistent ignition indicated an improvement of combustion stability especially in catalyst heating operation.
Matthias Neubauer of AVL co-authored a paper with Enerpulse’s founder and chief technology officer Lou Camilli that researched the effects of this 5MW pulse on fuel consumption, emissions, and catalyst heating. The paper, titled High Power Discharge Combustion Effects on Fuel Consumption, Emissions, and Catalyst Heating was reviewed and published by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) for the SAE 2014 International Powertrain, Fuels & Lubricants meeting.