Federal-Mogul Powertrain has developed a portfolio of spark plugs designed specially for heavy-duty vehicles that run on compressed natural gas (CNG).
The transient operation of CNG heavy-duty vehicle engines and the wide range of ambient conditions encountered can produce temperature gradients that are different from those found in stationary engines. For example, heavy-duty vehicle engines often encounter frequent idling periods, followed by wide-open throttle operation. This puts additional thermal shock stress on the material bonds of the spark plug, according to Federal-Mogul.
‘The electrode temperatures also tend to be higher in heavy-duty vehicle applications compared to stationary applications, and spark energy levels are lower, but we can carry across a great deal of our experience in geometry, materials and manufacturing processes to accommodate these variations,’ says Dr. Rene Trebbels, Federal-Mogul's ignition applications engineer.
‘For example, we have different electrode material configurations with an iridium center and, depending on the application, a platinum or iridium ground to optimize the electrode surface for extended life,’ he notes.
Federal-Mogul operates technology centers in the U.S., Germany and China.
