CHAPTER 8

IGNITION SYSTEM
 Introduction
o An ignition system: is a system for igniting a fuel-air mixture. Ignition
systems are well known in the field of internal combustion engines such
as those used in petrol (gasoline) engines used to power the majority of
motor vehicles, but they are also used in many other applications such as
in oil-fired and gas-fired boilers, rocket engines, etc.

o The first ignition system to use an electric spark was probably Alessandro
Volta's toy electric pistol from the 1780s. Virtually all petrol engines today
use an electric spark for ignition.

o Diesel engines depends on fuel compression for ignition, but usually also
have glow plugs that preheat the combustion chamber to allow starting of
the engine in cold weather. Other engines may use a flame, or a heated
tube, for ignition
 Function of Ignition System
The Ignition System has three major functions that should be perform:

o Generate a spark (30,000 volts) , capable of bridge the gap of the spark plug

in the difficult environment of the combustion chamber.

o The spark needs to have the proper duration to allow, all the compress gases

to burn.

o The spark should be deliver on the right moment to maximize the power and

minimize the emissions.

 Requirements of an Ignition System
o It should provide a good spark between the electrodes of the plugs at the
correct timing.
o The duration of the spark must be long enough with sufficient energy to
ensure that ignition of the mixture has a high voltage chance of occurring.
o The system must distribute high voltage to each of the spark plug at exact
time in every cycle .
o It should function efficiently over the entire range of engine speed.
o It should be light, effective and reliable in service.
o It should be cheap and convenient to handle.
o It should be compact and easy to maintain.
 Basic components of ignition system
o Various ignition circuit components are designed to achieve the specific functions on the
ignition system. That components are:
BATTERY- provides power for the circuit. (Lead Acid for light duty & Alkaline for heavy-duty )
 Basic components of ignition system
Ignition Switch- allows the operator to turn
the circuit and engine ON and OFF.

Ignition Coil- changes battery voltage to high

ignition voltage (30,000 volts and greater).
 Basic components of ignition system
o Ignition Distributor- distributes ignition voltage to the spark plug. Contains
either mechanical contact points or an electronic switching circuit.

o Spark Plug- device that provides an air gap in the combustion chamber for
an electric arc.
Ballast Resistor: is provided in series with the primary windings to
regulate the primary current.

Contact Breaker: is a mechanical device for making &

braking the primary circuit of ignition coil.
 Types of ignition system
o Basically Conventional Ignition systems are of 2 types :(a) Battery or Coil
Ignition System, and(b) Magneto Ignition System.

Ignition system

Magneto ignition system Coil/Battery Ignition system

o Both these conventional ignition systems work on mutual electromagnetic

induction principle.
 Magneto ignition system
o Magneto ignition system is mainly
used in 2-wheelers, kick start
engines(Example, Bajaj Scooters,
Boxer etc).

o In this case magneto will produce

and supply current to the primary
winding.

o So in magneto ignition system

magneto replaces the battery.
 Working principle of Magneto ignition system

o As magnets in flywheel rotate past the magneto, the points close.

o The magnetic flux of the magnets the flywheel induces a current in the
primary coil.
o With current flowing in the primary circuit, a magnetic field develops
around the primary coil.
o This magnetic field also surrounds the secondary coil.
o As the flywheel continues to rotate the breaker points open.
 Working principle of Magneto ignition system
o When the breaker points open the magnetic field produced by the current

in the primary winding collapses.

o The collapsing magnetic field flows across the secondary coil which

induces a current in the secondary coil.

o Because there is a 60:1 ratio of windings in the two coils, the voltage is

transformed to the 10,000 and 15,000 volts needed to fire the spark plug.
 Advantages and disadvantages of Magnetic Ignition System
Advantages
✓Since there is no battery, the system is more reliable.
✓For medium and very high speed engines, the system is more suitable.
✓The space require is less, by using steel and nickel aluminium magnet
metals energy.
✓This system is fairly reliable with resent development.
Disadvantages
o At low speed and during cranking the voltage is very low. Suitable
modifications are necessary in the circuit to overcome this.
o Adjustment of the spark timing has a determined effect upon the
spark voltage or energy.
o The burning of the electrodes will result with powerful sparks at
high engine speeds.
o More costly.
 BATTERY IGNITION SYSTEM
✓ Most of the modern spark ignition engine
use battery ignition system.
✓ It mainly consists of a 6 or12 volt battery,
ballast resistor, ignition switch, auto
transformer (step up transformer),
contact breaker, capacitor, distributor
rotor, spark plugs, etc.
✓ First three component are housed in the
primary side of the ignition coil and
others are in the secondary side.

✓ In this case 6 V or 12 V batteries will

supply necessary current in the primary
winding.
 Working principle of battery
✓ As the key inserted to the ignition switch primary ignition circuit starts at
the battery.
✓ A low voltage is supply to the ignition coil. (through primary coil)
✓ Secondary coil have work to increase the voltage supply.
✓ This high voltage around 24,000 volts goes to distributer circuit.
✓ The distributer circuit have work to distribute the incoming voltage to the
different spark plugs at suitable timing.
✓ After that current jumps the plug gap , igniting the gasoline mixture.
 Advantage and Disadvantage of Battery/Coil Ignition System
Advantage of Battery/Coil Ignition System
✓ At the time of starting and idling at low speed good sparkling is available.
✓ Initial expenditure is less . Hence, this system is used in cars and
commercial vehicles.
✓ Maintenance cost is less.
✓ Distributor drive is simple and non-complicated.
✓ By adjusting spark-timing complete ignition system is not adversely affected.
Disadvantage of Battery/Coil Ignition System
o If the battery is discharged, then it is not possible to start the engine.
o Battery is to be checked regularly.
o It occupies more space.
o Its wiring is complicated.
o The intensity of spark decreases with increase in speed.
Comparison of battery ignition and magneto ignition system
 Firing order:
o The firing order is the sequence of power delivery of each cylinder in a
multi-cylinder reciprocating engine.
o This is achieved by sparking of the spark plugs in a gasoline engine in the
correct order. Or by the sequence of fuel injection in a diesel engine.

o When designing an engine, choosing an appropriate firing order is critical

to minimize vibration, achieving smooth running, for long engine fatigue
life and user comfort, and heavily influences crankshaft design.
Six cylinder crank shaft arrengement
8 - cylinder crank shaft arrengement