Subject: Automotive Electrical & Electronics
Chapter 4 – IGNITION SYSTEM
SUBMITTED BY:
Ayananta Bhowmick
Jr. Lecturer in Automobile Engg
Raiganj Polytecnic
Definition of Ignition system
The system in an I.C engine that produces the spark to
ignite the air fuel mixture is known as ignition system.
Information about ignition system in SI
engine
The term spark-ignition engine refers to an internal combustion engines
generally, petrol engine.
Where the combustion process of the air-fuel mixture is ignited by a spark
from a Spark Plug
The working cycle of spark ignition engines may be either two stroke or four
stroke.
A four stroke spark ignition engines is an Otto cycle.
The combustion is initiated by an electrical discharge across the electrodes
of a spark plug.
Ignition system Requirement
It should provide a good spark between the electrode of the
plugs at correct timing.
The system must distribute this high voltage to each of the
spark plug at exact time in every cycle.
It should function efficiently over the entire range of engine
speed.
It should be light, effective and reliable in service.
Types of Ignition system
Coil Ignition system
Magneto Ignition system
Electronic Ignition system
Coil Ignition System
The primary circuit consists of the battery, ammeter,
ignition switch, primary coil winding, capacitor, and
contact breaker points.
The secondary circuit converts magnetic induction into
high voltage electricity to jump across the sparkplug gap,
firming the mixture at the right time.
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 windings will collapses. This will cause a
very high voltage to be induced in the secondary windings.(12000v to25000v)
This depends upon the number of turns of the secondary to primary
windings.
When the contact breaker in the primary circuits is opened, the distributor
rotor connects with a contact to the spark plug.
This high voltage jumps across the air gap of the spark plug. This will
produce the spark for Ignition System.
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 consists of a
magneto, breaker points, capacitor, ignition switch, distributor and
spark plug.
Magneto can either be rotating armature type or rotating magneto
type.
The armature consisting of the primary and secondary windings all
rotate between the poles of a stationary magneto, revolves and the
windings are kept stationary.
Magneto Ignition System
Difference between Battery and Magneto
Ignition
Battery Ignition Magneto Ignition
Complicated wiring Simple wiring
Cost is High Cost is less
Starting problem in cold Starting is easy in cold weather
weather
Maintenance cost is high No maintenance cost is required
Mostly use in Four wheelers Mostly use in two wheelers
Electronic Ignition
The electronic ignition system is the type of ignition
system that uses electronic circuits, usually by
transistors controlled by sensors to generate electric
pulses which in turn generate the better spark that can
even burn the lean mixture and provide better
economy and lower emission.
Main components of Electronic Ignition
Battery
Ignition switch
Ignition Control Module
Armature
Ignition coil
Distributor
Spark Plug
Electronic Ignition system
Electronic Ignition
In Electronic Ignition system, breaker points are replaced by an
armature.
Armature sends signal to ignition module to make and break the circuit.
When the ignition switch is turned on, current flows from the battery
through the ignition switch to the coil primary windings.
When the reluctor or armature tooth comes in front of the pickup coil, a
voltage signal is generated.
The electronic module senses the signal produced by the pickup coil and
stops the current to flow from primary circuit.
A timing circuit inside the ignition module turns ON the
current flow again when the reluctor tooth rotates away from
the pickup coil.
Due to continuous make and break of the current, a magnetic
field is generated in the ignition coil.
Due to magnetic field, an emf is induced in the secondary
winding, causing the voltage to increase upto 50,000 volts.
This high voltage is then transferred to the distributor and a
rotor inside the distributor rotates according to ignition timing.
Spark Plug
A spark plug is a device for delivering electric current from an ignition system to
the combustion chamber of a spark-ignition engine to ignite the compressed
fuel/air mixture by an electric spark, while containing combustion pressure
within the engine.
The main component of spark plug are
1.Insulator 2.Terminal 3.Ring,Packing washer
4.Centre shaft 5.Housing 6.Glass seal 7.Gasket
8.Electrode with copper 9.Ring,packing washer
10.Centre electrode 11.U-groove Ground electrode
12 Tapered cut ground electrode.
Spark Plug
Firing Order :The order in which various cylinders of a multi-
cylinder engine fire is called the firing order.
The firing order is the sequence of power delivery of each cylinder
in a multi-cylinder reciprocating engine. 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.
Example: Firing order of 4 cylinder engine will be
1-3-4-2
6 cylinder engine will be 1-5-3-6-2-4
Questions
1. Discuss in detail the requirements and the functions of
an ignition system.
2. Give detailed account of the battery ignition system.
Illustrate your answer with neat sketches.
3. Describe clearly the function of a condenser in the
ignition system.
4. Explain with the help of a sketch the construction of a
spark plug.
5. Discuss the construction and working of magneto
ignition system.
Thank You
