Pre-ignition in highly charged spark ignition engines — visualisation and analysis

Highly boosted spark ignition engines must confront violent forms of pre-ignition limiting the maximal low-end torque. French research institute IFP presents here an innovative tool allowing a better understanding of this phenomenon and a structured reasoning considering all its potential causes of this phenomenon. Advanced statistical analyses of the combustion process and direct visualisations inside the combustion chamber are successfully combined to accurately assess the development of pre-ignition. This coupled approach provides an efficient tool for analysis and development of new engines and new control concepts on IFP test beds.