초록 ▼

A combined heat and power system including a 4 cylinder reciprocating internal combustion engine fuelled by a fuel gas, for example natural gas, and operating at a substantially constant speed and at a substantially constant air to fuel ratio. Operation of a spark generator and distributor device (4

A combined heat and power system including a 4 cylinder reciprocating internal combustion engine fuelled by a fuel gas, for example natural gas, and operating at a substantially constant speed and at a substantially constant air to fuel ratio. Operation of a spark generator and distributor device (44) is under control of an ignition spark duration control (10) whereby the duration of an ignition spark between the electrodes of the plug (16) is automatically variable to bring the spark duration closer to a predetermined minimum duration over which predetermined minimum duration there would be supplied to the electrodes of the plugs in turn a minimum-level of electrical ignition energy to substantially avoid misfire in the cylinders provided with the plugs. The minimum level of the electrical ignition energy is variable according to the size of the gap between the electrodes of the plug (16). The duration of the ignition spark of the plug (16) is observed by a monitor (62) in the lead which inputs the observed duration time into the control (10).

대표청구항 ▼

[ I claim:] [1.] A reciprocating internal combustion engine comprising:at least one cylinder provided with a spark plug having at least two electrodes with a gap therebetween;ignition spark duration control means whereby the duration of an ignition spark between said electrodes is automatically vari

[ I claim:] [1.] A reciprocating internal combustion engine comprising:at least one cylinder provided with a spark plug having at least two electrodes with a gap therebetween;ignition spark duration control means whereby the duration of an ignition spark between said electrodes is automatically variable to bring said spark duration closer to a predetermined minimum duration during which predetermined minimum duration there is supplied to the electrodes a minimum level of electrical ignition energy to substantially avoid misfire in the cylinder, and wherein said minimum level is variable according to the size of said gap; andduration observing means comprising optical signal generating means, said duration observing means determining the duration of a phenomenon which is a function of said predetermined duration of said spark and producing an optical signal which is a duration representative signal which is a function of said duration of said phenomena, and wherein said ignition spark duration control means receives said duration representative signal.