Abstract
Initial flame development and propagation were visualized under the new ignition system developed to estimate the effects of ignition characteristics on the engine performance in a port injection SI engine. Effects of intake air flow characteristics were also investigated by three different kinds of the swirl control valve. Experiments were performed in an optical single cylinder engine modified form a commercial engine. Flame images were captured through the quartz window mounted in the piston by the high speed video camera and analyzed to compare initial flame development. Results show that IMEP tends to rise slightly as the ignition duration gets longer. The direction of flame propagation is decisively governed by the in-cylinder flow motion. Every flame grows toward the exhaust valve forming a kind of turbulent flame. Initial flame propaagation characteristics are very similar to ones analyzed form pressure data.