UNIT -III

Ignition system:

Types and working of battery coil and magneto ignition systems, relative merits and
demerits, centrifugal and vacuum advance mechanisms.

Types and construction of spark plugs, electronic ignition systems. Transistorized coil
ignition system, capacitive discharge ignition system.
IGNITION SYSTEMS
 DEFINATION OF IGNITION SYSTEM

The system in an internal-combustion engine that

produces the spark to ignite the produces the spark to
ignite the mixture of fuel and air: includes the battery ,
spark plugs, and associated switches and wiring.
It known as the ignition system
 IGNITION FUNCTION
• Produces 30,000 volt spark across spark plug
• Distributes high voltage spark to each spark
plug in correct sequence
• Times the spark so it occurs as piston is
nearing top dead center
• Varies spark timing with load, speed, and
other conditions
 INFORMATION ABOUT IGNITION SYSTEM IN
SI ENGINE

The term spark-ignition engine refers to internal

combustion engines generally, petrol engines.
Where the combustion process of the air-fuel
mixture is ignited by a spark from a spark plug.
Spark-ignition engines are commonly refer to as
“gasoline engines” in America ,and “petrol
engines” in Britain and the rest of the world .
The working cycle of spark ignition engines may
be either two stock or four stroke
A four stroke spark ignition engines is an Otto
cycle
It consist following four stroke.
1. Suction stroke
2. Compression stroke
3. Power stroke
4. Exhaust stroke
 The combustion in spark ignition engine is
initiated by an electrical discharge across the
electrodes of a spark plug, which usually occurs
fro 100 to 300 before TDC depending upon the
chamber geometry and operating conditions.
 The ignition system provides a spark of
sufficient intensity to ignite the air fuel mixture at
the predetermined position in the engine cycle
under all speeds and load condition.
IGNITION SYTEM REQUIREMENT
It should provide a good spark between the
electrodes of the plugs at the correct timing
The duration of the spark must be long enough with
sufficient energy to ensure that ignition of the mixture
has a high chance of occurring
The system must distribute this high voltage to each
of the spark plug at exact time in every cycle , i.e., i t
must have in it a distributing device
It should function efficiently over the entire range of
engine speed
It should be light, effective and reliable in service
The development of high speed, high
compression internal combustion engine requires
reliable high-speed ignition speed ignition
system. This is met by a high-tension ignition
system that uses a spark plugs as the source of
ignition. The electrical energy to the spark plug is
supplied by one of the following systems and is
termed accordingly.
BASIC IGNITION SYSTEM COMPONENTS

• BATTERY
• IGNITION SWITCH
• IGNITION COIL
• SWITCHING DEVICE
• SPARK PLUG
• IGNITION SYSTEM WIRES
 Battery supplies powerBASIC IGNITION SYSTEM
to entire system
 Ignition Switch turns
engine on or off
 Coil transforms volts
 Switching device triggers
ignition coil
 Spark Plug and wires
distribute spark
 PRIMARY CIRCUIT
 Consists of low
voltage wiring and
components
 Uses conventional
type automotive
primary wires
 Controls when ignition
will take place. (When
coil fires)
 SECONDARY CIRCUIT
 Distributes current to
individual cylinders to
jump spark plug gap
 Must have thicker,
heavier insulation on
wires
 Typical voltage to
jump gap - 10K Volts
 IGNITION COIL
• TRANSFORMER
• 2 SETS OF WINDINGS
– Primary windings
– Secondary windings
• IRON CORE
• PRODUCES
MAGNETIC FIELD
 IGNITION SYSTEM TYPES
• CONTACT POINT IGNITION SYSTEM
• ELECTRONIC IGNITION SYSTEM
• DISTRIBUTORLESS IGNITION SYSTEM
 CONTACT POINT SYSTEM
 Distributor turns 1/2
engine rpm
 Distributor Cam
 Contact Points
 Condenser
 Point Dwell (Cam
angle)
 Basis for all Systems
DWELL (CAM ANGLE)
 Amount of time in
distributor degrees
that points remain
closed between each
opening
 Coil saturation time is
controlled by amount
of dwell
 ELECTRONIC IGNITION SYSTEM
• Uses electronic
control circuit to
operate the ignition
coil
• More dependable
than contact system
• Higher secondary
Ignition voltages
 MAGNETIC PICK UP COIL
 Produces tiny voltage
pulses to create
magnetic field changes
 Trigger Wheel
interrupts magnetic
field
 Tell control unit
(amplifier) when to
fire ignition coil
 Hall Effect element is
a solid state device HALL EFFECT DEVICE
 Contains a permanent
magnet next to
element
 A Tab shunts
magnetic field to send
signal to control unit
 Signal is On or Off
 IGNITION CONTROL UNIT AMPLIFIER

• Controls Primary current to tell Ignition Coil

when to fire spark plugs
HIGH VOLTAGE SECONDARY COMPONENTS
• IGNITION COIL
• COIL WIRE
• DISTRIBUTOR
• DISTRIBUTOR CAP
• DISTRIBUTOR ROTOR
• SPARK PLUG WIRE
• SPARK PLUG
 SECONDARY CIRCUIT

• DISTRIBUTES SPARK TO RIGHT PLACE AT RIGHT

TIME
• PARTS ARE DESIGNED TO CONTROL HIGH
VOLTAGES
SPARK PLUGS
Pg 121C
1.Normal 1 2 3 4 5
2.Overheated
3.Pre-ignition
4.Cracked 6 7 8 9 10
insulator
5.Bridged gap
6.Deposit
fouled
7.Carbon
glazed
8.Splashed
9.Glazed
10. Oil fouled
SPARK PLUG TYPES
 DISTRIBUTORLESS IGNITION
• Timing is very precise
• No mechanical parts to wear out
• Requires less maintenance
• Ignition timing is USUALLY not adjustable
• Computer relies on ignition sensors
• On-board computer controls ignition timing
usually through a ignition module
DISTRIBUTORLESS IGNITION SYSTEM
DIS System
TYPES OF IGNITION SYSTEM
COIL IGNITION SYSTEM
MAGNETO IGNITION SYSTEM
ELECTRONIC IGNITION
SYSTEM
1.COIL IGNITION SYSTEM
 The primary circuit consists of the battery, ammeter,
ignition switch, primary coil winding, capacitor, and
breaker points. The functions of these components are

Batery PROVIDES THE POWER TO RUN THE SYSTEM

IGNITION ALLOWS THE DRIVER TO RUN TURN THE SYSTEM

SYSTEM ON AND OFF.

PRIMARY COIL PRODUCES THE MAGNETIC FIELD TO CREATE THE

HIGH VOLTAGE IN THE SECONDARY COIL.

BREAKER POINT A MECHANICAL SWICH THAT ACTS AS THE

TRIGGERING MECHANISM.

CAPACITOR PROTECS THE POINT FROM BURNING OUT

The secondary circuit converts magnetic
induction into high voltage electricity to jump
across the sparkplug gap, firming the mixture at
the right time. The function of the
Secondary : the part of the coil that creates the high
Coil voltage
Electricity
Coil wire A hire insulated wire to take high voltage to the
distributor cap
Distributor : a plastic cap which goes on top of the
cap distributor,
to hold the high tension wires in the
Rotor right
: spinsorder
around on the top of the distributor shaft,
and distributes the spark to the right spark plug

Spark plug : another highly insulated wire that takes the

Leads high
voltage from the cap to the plugs

Spark plugs : take the electricity from the wires, and give it
an
The ignition switch provided, connects and
disconnects the ignition system from the
battery.hence the engine can be started or
stopped a will. When the ignition system is “ON
"the contact breaker points are closed.
This allows the current to flow from the battery
trough primary winding of the ignition coil and
back to battery through earthlings .
The magnetic field across the primary winding is
developed. This will induce back e.m.f. this will
oppose the battery current. With the result, the
current in the primary will slowly developed.
This will delay the building up of magnetic field. A
voltage is induced in the secondary windings. But
the e.m.f.is too low to produce a spark at the
spark plug.
The breaker point is opened by the distributor
arm when we want a spark in the engine.
This opens the primary circuit.
The magnetic field in the primary field
collapses. The resulting induced current will
flows in the same directiopn as the battery
current. It charge the condenser. When the
voltage of the battery across the condenser
plates, the flows of the current is reversed.
The magnetic field in the coil of the primary
winding reverses due to the quick reversal of
the current in the primary winding.
This will cause a very high voltage to be
induced in the secondary winding.
This depends upon the number of turns of
the secondary to primary wind.
This induced voltage is of the order of 10 KV
When the contact breaker in the primary
circuits is opened, the distributor rotor
connects with a contact to the spark plug.
This high induced voltage jumps across the
air gap of the spark plug.
This will produce the spark for ignition system
battery of 6V to V used. The voltage induced is 6
V to 24 V used.
The voltage induced is 6kV to 10kV.
 ADVANTAGES OF THE COIL
IGNITION SYSTEM
1. At the time of starting and idling at low speed
good sparkling is available.
2. Initial expenditure is less . Hence, this system is
used in cars and commercial vehicles.
3. Maintenance cost is less.
4. Distributor drive is simple and non-complicated.
5. By adjusting spark-timing complete
ignition system is not adversely affected.
DISADVANTAGE OF COIL IGNITION
SYTEM
1. If the battery is discharged, then it is not
possible to start the engine.
2. Battery is to be checked regularly.
3. It occupies more space.
4. Its wiring is complicated.
5. The intensity of spark decreases with
increase in speed.
 2. Magneto ignition system
 The high powered, high speed spark ignition engines
like aircraft, sports and racing cars use magneto ignition
system. The basic components of a magneto ignition
system consist of a magneto, breaker points, capacitor,
ignition switch, distributor, spark plug leads, and spark
plugs.
Magneto can either be rotating armature type or rotating
magneto type. In the former, the armature consisting of
the primary and secondary windings all rotate between
the poles of a stationary magneto, revolves and the
winding are kept stationary.
 oElectric circuits
•Uses a changing
magnetic field to
generate current
in primary and
secondary
circuits
 oMagnetic flux
•As magnet
approaches,
induces magnetic
flux in armature
•Breaker points close
and current
dissipates through
primary circuit
 oSpark fires
t
•After magnet rotate pas
s
armature flux
reverse direction, and the breaker points open
•Change in magnetic flux produces 170
volts in primary circuit
•Induces 10,000 volts in secondary circuit,
firing spark plug
oBreaker
points

•Crankshaft rotation causes

mechanical actuation of
breaker
 ADVANTAGES OF MAGNETIC
IGNITION SYSTEM
Since there is no battery or connecting table, the
system is more reliable.
For medium and very high speed engines, the
system is more suitable.
The space require is less, by using cobalt steel and
nickel aluminium magnet metals energy.
This system in fairly reliable with resent
development.
DISADVANTAGES OF MAGNETO
IGNITION SYSTEM
At low speed and during cranking the voltage is
very low. Suitable modifications are necessary in
the circuit to overcome this.
Adjustment of the spark timing has
determined effect upon the spark voltage or
energy.
The burning of the electrodes will result
with powerful sparks at high engine
speeds.
More costly.
Starting is troublesome.
3. Electronic ignition system
 The disadvantage of the mechanical system is
that it requires regular adjustment to compensate for
wear, and the opening of the contact breakers,
which is responsible for spark timing, is subject to
mechanical variations.
 In addition, the spark voltage is also dependent on
contact effectiveness, and poor sparking may lower the
engine efficiency. Electronic ignition system has
solved these problems
.
•In this system, the contact breaker points are
replaced by an angular sensor of some kind - either
optical, where a vane rotor breaks a light beam, or
more commonly using a hall effect sensor, which
responds to a rotating magnet mounted on a suitable
shaft.
•The sensor output processed by a suitable circuitry is
then used to trigger a switching device such as a
thyristor, which switches a large flow of current through
the coil.
•The rest of the system remains the same as the
mechanical system. The lack of moving parts
compared with mechanical system leads to greater
reliability and longer service intervals. In some order
cars, it was usually possible to retrofit an electronic
 oSpark plugs
•The spark plug ignites the air-
fuel mixture inside the cylinder.
This occurs when high voltage,
triggered at
precisely the right instant, bridges
the gap between the center and
the ground electrodes. It also
provides a secondary purpose of
helping to channel some heat
away from the cylinder.
Firing order
 Firing order indicates the sequence or order in
which the firing impulses occur in a multi-cylinder
spark ignition engine. It is chosen to give a uniform
torque, and hence a uniform distribution of firing per
revolution of the engine.
 This is naturally dictated by the engine design, the
cylinder arrangement and the crankshaft design.
The firing order be such that there must always be
a proper balance so as to minimize the engine
Vibration.