Advanced Hot Surface Ignition Systems for High Pressure Natural Gas (HPNG) Engines

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This CRD program will investigate and address the limitations of the design and materials for Hot Surface Ignition systems (HSIS) in High-Pressure Natural Gas (HPNG) Direct Injection engines under development by Westport Innovations Inc, of Vancouver, BC. The long-term engineering goal of this project is to provide research support and design assistance to Westport towards development of an acceptable-cost HSIS which will reliably perform for >10,000 hrs in HPNG engine. The fundamental engineering science goals include advancement of the science of electrically conductive ceramic heaters in the complex and dynamic environment of the NG combustion engine. The three principal program objectives are: (1) Design, fabricate and evaluate MoSi2-based experimental Glow Ring (GR) systems and develop quantitative models of their deterioration process; (2) Investigate advanced Si3N4-based HSIS for HPNG-DI based on commercially available Glow Plug (GP); (3) Develop, process and investigate surface modification technologies for (i) the new HSIS based on MoSi2 GR; (ii) Si3N4-based GP. We will research and address a host of materials and design related challenges at the fundamental materials science & engineering as well as at engineering design levels, including damage study and prevention to electrically conductive ceramics for GR, GP, and Spark Plug (corrosion, erosion, fracture, electric-field related damage); development of ceramic-metal systems for improved mechanical performance and reliability of GR and GP (including interfacial reactions; residual stress minimization; elements redistribution and surface corrosion minimisation); development and assessment of performance of passive (corrosion protection) and active (catalytic) coatings for GR and GP, as well as mathematical modeling and prediction of the materials and devices performance.