Mechanical Engineering
Graduate Seminar
NOTICE OF SEMINAR PRESENTATION
CANDIDATE: Ahmad Qalyoubi
DEGREE SOUGHT: MASc
DATE: 7/17/2026
TIME: 11:30am
PLACE: Room 1101 CEI
TITLE: Experimental Study of Spark Ignition and Flame Combustion Characteristics Using a Rapid Compression Machine
Abstract
Spark-ignition (SI) engines continue to play a significant role in the transportation sector due to their high thermal efficiency and relatively low emissions. However, achieving stable combustion under lean-burn and highly diluted operating conditions remains a major challenge, as these conditions can negatively affect ignition stability, flame development, and overall combustion efficiency. A detailed understanding of the ignition process and flame propagation is therefore essential for developing advanced combustion strategies that improve engine performance while meeting increasingly stringent emissions regulations.
This study investigates the ignition and flame propagation characteristics of SI engine fuel mixtures using a Rapid Compression Machine (RCM). The RCM provides a well-controlled experimental environment capable of reproducing the pressure and temperature conditions representative of those in spark-ignition engines while minimizing the influence of complex in-cylinder flow phenomena. Experimental measurements, including pressure traces and high-speed flame imaging, are used to characterize spark ignition, ignition delay, flame kernel development, flame propagation, and combustion duration under a range of operating conditions and mixture compositions.
The outcomes of this research are expected to improve the understanding of the fundamental combustion processes governing spark-ignition engines and provide valuable insights into the effects of operating conditions on ignition and flame development. Ultimately, this work will contribute to the optimization of ignition strategies and the development of cleaner, more efficient SI combustion systems for future engine applications.