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PROJECT SUMMARY

Technical Abstract (Limit your abstract to 200 words with no classified or proprietary information/data.)

Recent advances in the development of low compression ratio diesel-fueled engines have revealed a need for improved ignition of the fuel/ air charge. Conventional spark ignition or glow plug systems do a poor job of igniting the fuel-air mixture. Other disadvantages include weight, cost, electrical interference and low reliability. The unique Catalytic Plasma Torch (CPT) ignition produces a large volume of ignitic reactants compared to SI. It eliminates lean misfire and is self-timing. Since the CPT operates on low power DC voltage, it is lighter and lower in cost. The proposed project will demonstrate the CPT ignition in a low compression rotary engine using JP-5 fuel and compare CPT performance with the existing glow plug ignition. BKM is an engineering research company specializing in advanced engine concepts. It has developed and is currently marketing the Servojet fuel injection system.

Anticipated Benefits/Potential Commercial Applications of the Research or Development

It is expected that the CPT ignition will improve cold-starting, reduce fuel consumption and exhaust emissions, and result in a simpler, lighter and lower cost engine package for unmanned aerial vehicles and a variety of other diesel-fueled engines. There is enormous commercial potential for any product that can reduce cost, weight, fuel consumption and exhaust emissions.