The life of gasoline engines: revealing the important role of spark plugs in the fuel power chain

As the "pacemaker" of gasoline engines, automobile spark plugs have an irreplaceable core position in the fuel power system. Behind the seemingly ordinary metal-ceramic structure, automobile spark plugs carry the key mission of converting chemical energy into mechanical energy.

When the piston compresses the mixture to a critical state, the 20,000-30,000 volts of high voltage electricity released by the ignition coil passes through the electrode gap of the spark plug and instantly breaks through the air, generating an arc with a temperature of up to 3000°C during the period. This microscopic explosion, which lasts only one millionth of a second, determines the power output and fuel efficiency of the engine. The fine electrode design of high-quality spark plugs can increase the concentration of ignition energy by 40%, allowing the fuel-saving potential of lean combustion technology to be fully released.

The innovation of materials is driving the evolution of automobile spark plugs. The material transition from nickel alloy to double iridium platinum not only extends the service life of automobile spark plugs from 20,000 kilometers to 100,000 kilometers, but also reduces the ignition voltage requirement by 30% through cutting-edge discharge technology. The matching of spark plugs to engines is a precise science. The calorific value parameter is the core matching indicator, which ensures thermal balance under different working conditions by quantifying the heat dissipation capacity. Behind this precise matching, it is ensured that each spark plug can withstand the special working environment of the turbocharged engine and adapt to the frequent start-stop of urban congested road conditions.

The wave of intelligence is injecting new vitality into this century-old component. From the single ignition element in the era of internal combustion engines to the key to energy control of intelligent networked vehicles, spark plugs have always played a key role in the wave of power revolution.