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The fact that, in our times, the execution of the exothermic process of combustion (‘heat release”) remains virtually uncontrolled is astonishing. Upon an attempt to rationalize this anomaly on historical grounds, technological means to rectify this astounding state of affairs are presented. They are based on the premise that, in the course of this process, the cylinder-piston enclosure is, in effect, a full-fledged chemical reactor. The salient feature of control is then active intervention into chemical reaction by turbulent jets. Principal elements of the control system are, as in any feedback mechanism, (1) sensors, (2) actuators and (3) a governor. The object of the first is to measure the profile of pressure - the useful output of the process. The second consists of a set of turbulent jet generators for injection of fuel and its mixing with air, as well as for ignition.

An experimental investigation of the PJC (Pulsed Jet Combustion) system in a research engine is presented. The modus operandi is based on the introduction into the combustion chamber of a turbulent plume formed by a jet of rich combustion products issued from an orifice of a generator plug. This study is a continuation of previous investigations performed with the use of, sequentially, a constant volume vessel and a single compression machine. The PJC generator was supplied with a rich mixture via a Bosch injector. Methane was used as a fuel. Pressure records of a piezo-electric transducer were processed by a computer data acquisition system. The investigations were performed for lean combustible mixtures (ϕ=0.625, 1.0) over a wide range of spark advance angles. Direct comparison between the PJC system and conventional spark ignition was made for optimal ignition advance angle.