Current issue
Online first
Archive
About the Journal
Aims and scope
Publisher and Editorial
Advertising policy
For Authors
Paper review procedures
Procedures protecting authentic authorship of papers
Paper preparation manual
Plagiarism check
Publication ethics
Reviewers
APC
Editorial and Scientific Board
Contact
Reviewers
Impact of spark plug type on the cycle-to-cycle variability in an internal combustion gas engine
1
Faculty of Civil and Transport Engineering, Poznan University of Technology, Poland
Submission date: 2025-06-20
Final revision date: 2026-01-12
Acceptance date: 2026-01-12
Online publication date: 2026-01-12
Corresponding author
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
An experimental study was conducted using a single-cylinder gas engine to determine the impact of spark plug type on engine cycle-to-cycle repeatability. Two types of spark plugs were used for the analysis: the first was a flat electrode spark plug, and the second was a conventional spark plug with a side electrode, designated as “J”. The tests were carried out over an air excess ratio range of 1.0 to 1.4 and an ignition coil charging time range of 1.5 ms to 5 ms, at a constant engine speed of 1500 rpm and a load of 6 bar IMEP. The results indicate
a significant improvement in engine repeatability when using a spark plug with a flat ground electrode.
An average reduction of 61% in the IMEP variability coefficient was achieved in the air excess range of 1.0–1.3. The use of a spark plug with a side electrode “J” resulted in a reduction in the sensitivity of engine operation to changes in the mixture composition and coil charging time.
REFERENCES (26)
1.
Abdel-Rehim AA. Impact of spark plug number of ground electrodes on engine stability. Ain Shams Eng J. 2012;4(2):307-316. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asej....
2.
Amirante R, Distaso E, Tamburrano P, Reitz RD. Laminar flame speed correlations for methane, ethane, propane and their mixtures, and natural gas and gasoline for spark-ignition engine simulations. Int J Engine Res. 2017;18(9):951-970. https://doi.org/10.1177/146808....
3.
Atibeh PA, Brear MJ, Dennis PA, Orbaiz PJ, Watson HC. Lean limit combustion analysis for a spark ignition natural gas internal combustion engine. Combust Sci Technol. 2013;185(8):1151-1168. https://doi.org/10.1080/001022....
4.
Bueschke W, Skowron M, Szwajca F, Wisłocki K. Flame propagation velocity in 2-stage gas combustion system applied in SI engine. IOP Conf Ser: Mater Sci Eng. 2018;421:042009. https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-8....
5.
Cho HM, He BQ. Spark ignition natural gas engines – a review. Energy Convers Manag. 2006;48(2):608-618. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enco....
6.
Clasen K, Melaika M, Koopmans L, Dahlander P. High load lean SI-combustion analysis of DI methane and gasoline using optical diagnostics with endoscope. SAE Technical Papers. 2021-24-0046. 2021. https://doi.org/10.4271/2021-2....
7.
Fichtner J, Ninow J, Kapischke J. Simultaneous reductions in NOx emissions, combustion instability, and efficiency loss in a lean-burn CHP engine via hydrogen-enriched natural gas. Energies. 2025;18(16):4339. https://doi.org/10.3390/en1816....
8.
Gu Q, Xu M, Ye C, Hung D, Li X. Investigation of the Impacts of spark plug orientation on combustion stability under lean SI operation. SAE Technical Papers. 2020-01-1121. 2020. https://doi.org/10.4271/2020-0....
9.
Han SB. Investigation of cyclic variations of IMEP under idling operation in spark ignition engines. KSME International Journal. 2001;15(1):81-87. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf0318....
10.
Jung D, Sasaki K, Iida N. Effects of increased spark discharge energy and enhanced in-cylinder turbulence level on lean limits and cycle-to-cycle variations of combustion for SI engine operation. Appl Energy. 2017;205:1467-1477. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apen....
11.
Kheyrollahi J, Jafarmadar S, Khalilarya S, Niaki SRA. Improvement of performance and emission in a lean‐burn gas fueled spark ignition engine by using a new pre‐chamber. Environ Prog Sustain Energy. 2021;40(5). https://doi.org/10.1002/ep.136....
12.
Kosmadakis GM, Rakopoulos DC, Rakopoulos CD. Assessing the cyclic-variability of spark-ignition engine running on methane-hydrogen blends with high hydrogen contents of up to 50%. Int J Hydrog Energy. 2021;46(34):17955-17968. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhy....
13.
Kurtyka K, Pielecha J. Cold start emissions from a gasoline engine in RDE tests at different ambient temperatures. Combustion Engines . 2020;181(2):24-30. https://doi.org/10.19206/CE-20....
14.
Li Y, Yang F, Linxun X, Liu J, Wang J, Duan X. Influences of the control parameters and spark plug configurations on the performance of a natural gas spark-ignition engine. Fuel. 2022;324:124728. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel....
15.
Páv K. Implication of cycle-to-cycle variability in SI engines. MECCA Journal of Middle European Construction and Design of Cars. 2018;16(1):10-17. https://doi.org/10.1515/mecdc-....
16.
Paykani A. Comparative study on chemical kinetics mechanisms for methane-based fuel mixtures under engine-relevant conditions. Energies. 2021;14(10):2834. https://doi.org/10.3390/en1410....
17.
Pielecha I. The influence of petrol injection parameters on the structure of geometry of fuel spray injected from outward-opening injectors. Fuel. 2018;222:64-73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel....
18.
Pielecha I, Szwajca F. Combustion of lean methane/propane mixtures with an active prechamber engine in terms of various fuel distribution. Energies. 2023;16(8):3608. https://doi.org/10.3390/en1608....
19.
Richardson SW, McMillian MH, Woodruff SD, Worstell T, McIntyre DL. Laser spark ignition of a blended hydrogen-natural gas fueled single cylinder engine. ASME 2006 Internal Combustion Engine Division Spring Technical Conference. 2006;411-419. https://doi.org/10.1115/ices20....
20.
Sjerić M, Taritaš I, Kozarac D, Effect of spark plug geometry on the cyclic combustion variability and fuel consumption of gasoline engines. Journal of Energy Engineering. 2017;143(6). https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)...
21.
Sobczak J, Kamińska M, Ziółkowski A, Rymaniak Ł, Szymlet N. Analysis of pollutant emissions of a railbus based on Real Train Emissions measurements. Combustion Engines. 2025;201(2):22-33. https://doi.org/10.19206/CE-20....
22.
Szwajca F, Wisłocki K, Różański M. Analysis of energy transfer in the ignition system for high-speed combustion engines. Energies. 2024;17(20):5091. https://doi.org/10.3390/en1720....
23.
Szwajca F, Wisłocki K. Experimental identification of the electrical discharge on a surface gap spark plug. Combustion Engines. 2023;195(4):104-108. https://doi.org/10.19206/CE-16....
24.
Vipartas T, Rimkus A, Stravinskas S, Pitrėnas A, Matulis A. Spark ignition (SI) engine energy and ecological performance using natural gas and late intake valve close (LIVC). Appl Sci. 2025;15(11):6185. https://doi.org/10.3390/app151....
25.
Zhang X, Chen L. The synergy effect of ignition energy and spark plug gap on methane lean combustion with addressing initial flame formation and cyclic variation. ACS Omega. 2023;8(7):7036-7044. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsome....
26.
Zheng J, Bhatnagar K, Khurana M, Zhang P, Zhang BY, Linga P. Semiclathrate based CO2 capture from fuel gas mixture at ambient temperature: Effect of concentrations of tetra-n-butylammonium fluoride (TBAF) and kinetic additives. Appl Energy.. 2018;217:377-389. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apen....
Share
RELATED ARTICLE
| eISSN: | 2658-1442 |
| ISSN: | 2300-9896 |
The scientific journal is financed under the Agreement 185/WCN/2019/1 from the funds of the Minister of Science and Higher Education
© 2006-2026 Journal hosting platform by Bentus
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
