Ford of UK and researchers at the University of Liverpool are in the process of developing lasers that will eventually replace spark plugs in gasoline engines. It is expected that the technology will not only make it easier to start cars, but is also likely to make the ignition of fuel more efficient, thereby reducing the pollutants.
The lasers will be powered by the car’s battery and the beam will be transported to the engine by means of an optical fiber. Lenses will focus the beam inside the engine, where it will be able to produce enough heat to light up the fuel. Light reflected back from the engine may provide feedback on the type of fuel and the level of ignition, this may in turn be used to adjust the quantities of air, fuel and the number of times the laser is fired in a second.
Researchers say that the laser may be fired more than 50 times a second at 3000 RPM, but it will use less power than conventional spark plugs. The technology may allow the use of mixed-fuels, where a number of biofuels may be used in the car, without compromising on its efficiency.
Image for representation only.
Via: Telegraph
