Microwave Pulse Ignition to extend the ICE age

[NAC4EV]

And they claim it will give you 30% better gas mileage with 80% less emissions.

A new form of ignition could reduce emissions from the internal combustion engine (ICE). And it could be enough to keep them around for decades longer.

The technology comes from German start-up, MWI Microwave Ignition, and works by igniting fuel through pulsed microwaves in lieu of spark plugs. Essentially, it produces a more complete form of combustion, detonating more of the fuel in the cylinder compared with a spark plug. More fuel detonated per cycle means a more efficient engine.
Microwave ignition can also explode fuel at much lower combustion temperatures, and it can be applied to existing engines without the need for re-engineering.

https://www.autocar.co.nz/autocar-news-app/microwave-pulse-ignition-to-extend-the-ice-age

 

[ElFenix]

much lower combustion temperatures

isn't that the opposite of increased efficiency in heat engines?

 

[Paperdoc]

I agree. The Efficiency of the Carnot Cycle for production of work by buring fuel in a internal cobustion engine is almost entirely based on the difference in temperature between the max temp after the explosive combustion and the min temp of the discharge gases. 30% better gas mileage is a BIG claim, although up to 80% reduction in CERTAIN emissions might be reasonable. However, ONE of the "emissions" of greater concern today because of its contribution to the greenhouse effect and global warming is carbon dioxide. No amount of fiddling with combustion efficiency will reduce how much CO2 is produced when we burn hydrocarbon fuels.

 

[NAC4EV]

Both of you are over - engineering their statement.
All they said was that a Microwave ignition can explode fuel at much lower combustion temperatures.

Better starting perhaps in arctic conditions.

 

[PowerEngineer]

Interesting. I suspect that the desirability of a lower combustion temperature might be tied to reducing the production of nitrogen involved pollutants. A 15% reduction in CO2 emissions (per mile) would certainly be helpful, but probably not enough to extend ICE in states (like California) that have or will adopt really aggressive CO2 reduction goals.

 

[Paperdoc]

OK, prompted by the post above from NAC4EV I actually read the item linked by IP. It is short and contains little in technical details, typical of a promo piece to aid finding investors. But it does make both the claims cited - higher fuel efficiency plus lower noxious emissions. The article linked does not make the specific numeric claims of 30% better mileage and 80% less emissions. What it does claim is that the technique in essence produces multiple ignition points within the fuel/air mix in the cylinder, rather than a single point with a spark plug. This is what results in more complete combustion of the fuel AND lower combustion temperatures. How that impacts Carnot Cycle efficiency depends largely on what other operating conditions are used. It also makes the claim that this process is more reliable and hence makes starting a really cold engine easier. It is quite preliminary, and says that several of the advantages expected have not been proven yet, although they are reasonable conclusions. For example, IF this really does reduce waste of unburned fuel, that's where the efficiciency comes from. And if that happens, then for the same work done in moving the vehicle, less fuel is consumed and less emissions of many types are generated. Again, no numbers quoted.

I'd say it is an interesting technical concept, presumably with some developmental work pretty far along. But the news item does not give us much to judge its long-term potential yet.