spark plug uses multiple stream ionization for up to 10% better fuel consumption.

[Bill USA]

http://www.federalmogul.com/NR/rdonlyres/D41A5B62-623C-4EE3-8E7C-B9F60F3D7A51/0/ACISIgnition_FINAL.pdf

FRANKFURT, September 13, 2011 … Federal-Mogul Corporation (NASDAQ: FDML) will
introduce at this year’s IAA (Frankfurt Auto Show, Hall 4.1, Stand E15, September 13-16, 2011)
its highly innovative Advanced Corona Ignition System (ACIS), a breakthrough technology for
fuel efficiency and emissions reduction that significantly outperforms conventional spark-ignition
systems. Federal-Mogul’s ACIS is currently undergoing development with several customers
and has enabled an up to 10-percent fuel efficiency improvement over standard spark ignition in
development testing.

Corona ignition creates a significantly larger high-intensity plasma ignition source, spread
throughout the combustion chamber, when compared to conventional spark ignition systems.
The ACIS technology provides for more thorough combustion and enables advanced
combustion strategies like lean burn, highly diluted mixtures and very high exhaust gas
recirculation (EGR), further increasing fuel efficiency. The company’s ACIS utilizes materials
and design strategies to facilitate high-volume production implementation on current and new
engine architectures.

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ACIS uses a high-energy, high frequency electrical field to produce repeatable, controlled
ionization, creating multiple streams of ions to ignite the fuel mixture throughout the combustion
chamber, whereas conventional spark ignition creates only a small arc in the gap between the
electrodes of a spark plug.

This highly effective ignition technology also allows for optimized timing of the start of
combustion versus conventional ignition systems. ACIS generates rapid ignition and quick
burning, ensuring greater conversion of the fuel energy to mechanical energy with the added
potential for simultaneous reduction in engine cooling requirements.
(more)

[AndyTiedye]

1. Like a Little Tesla Coil

[Turbineguy]

2. In a 2500 rpm engine

you have about 1/300th of a second for the whole combustion process. A better, more controlled burn is a very big deal.

Here are a couple of videos of a typical combustion.

Gasoline: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iz31eCym2iQ&feature=related
Diesel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21ma2nyz0SQ&feature=related

You can see how the fire moves around in the chamber.