Investigations on Research Engines with Visible and Infrared Optical Access

Abstract

This paper details the progress made in an experimental study of knock in spark ignition engines undertaken between the Cambridge University Engineering Department and Ford Research and Engineering Centre. A general-purpose, optically accessed cylinder head of standard configuration and capable of high-speed operation has been designed and built. This head has been used in preliminary direct emission studies of knock. The same cylinder head, together with a photographic Ricardo Hydra, has been used in an infrared study of cylinder radiative emissions. By maximizing the combustion chamber surface emissions, observations regarding surface temperature characteristics with and without knock have been made. By minimizing the emissions from combustion chamber surfaces, the strong emission from the flame from itself has been used to produce once-per-cycle images of flame propagation.