By: Shivu R Reddy

For making the combustion of fuel as fast as possible can be done by using two spark plugs which spark alternatively at a certain time interval so as increase the diameter of the flame & burn the fuel instantaneously. The technology used is known as Twin Spark Technology.

This report gives the basics fundamentals of twin spark ignition engine and working of 4 stroke twin spark ignition engine.
It also gives the recent developments like Digital twin spark technology, DTS-i, DTS-Si, EFI and DTS-Fi technologies used in modern two wheelers.

Twin spark technology was used first time in Alfa Romeo grand prix car in 1914 to enable it to achieve a higher power output from its engines.

And in the early and middle 1980s, Alfa Romeo incorporated this technology into their road cars.

A conventional 4 Stroke engine has a Single Spark Plug whereas two spark Plugs are used in this technology.

The Twin Spark name comes from the fact that there are two spark plugs per cylinder.

The two sparks on the Twin Spark engines do not fire at exactly the same time.

Less ignition advance, as there are 2 symmetrically placed sparks plugs are used

Also, leaner mixtures can also be tolerated for better fuel economy.

During suction stroke, the piston moves downwards by the crankshaft movement.

The inlet valve is open and exhaust valve is closed during this stroke.
The downward movement of piston sucks the fresh air fuel mixture in the cylinder from the carburetor through open inlet valve.

At the end of suction stroke the inlet valve closes.

Suction stroke

During this stroke, the piston moves upward, thus compressing the charge. Ignition and much of compression also takes place during this stroke. The mixture under compression is ignited by spark produced by two sparkplugs. The first sparkplug sparks and after two microseconds the second sparkplug sparks. The inlet valve and exhaust valve remains closed during compression stroke.

Compression stroke

The expansion of gases due to heat of combustion exerts pressure on cylinder and piston.

Under this impulse the piston moves downward thus doing the useful work.
Pressure and temperature decrease during expansion. Both valves remain closed during this stroke.

Power stroke

During this stroke, the inlet valve is closed and exhaust valve opens. The greater part of burnt gases escapes because of their own expansion. The piston moves upwards and pushes remaining gases out of open exhaust valve. The exhaust valve closes at the end of the exhaust stroke and some residual gases remain in the cylinder.

Exhaust stroke

DTS-i DTS-i stands for Digital Twin Spark ignition. DTS-Si The DTS-Si stands for Digital Twin Spark-Swirl ignition. EFI The EFI stands for Electronic Fuel Injection.

DTS- Fi The DTS- Fi stands for Digital Twin Spark- Fuel injection

Spark plug & valve

Combustion Process

TWIN SPARK SI ENGINE

SINGLE SPARK SI ENGINE

Burning of Air fuel mixture is fast and complete

Two Spark plugs are used in each cylinder

Burning of Air fuel mixture is slow and incomplete

Single Spark plug are used in each cylinder

Rate of combustion is fast

Rate of combustion is slow and insufficient

Incomplete combustion of air fuel mixture and less power developed is less as compared twin spark engine Since the flame travels long distance more chances of knocking Higher hydrocarbon Emission

Complete combustion of air fuel mixture and gives max power Reduction of travel of flame, thus decreases knocking Lower hydrocarbon Emission

Uniform power delivery in all operating conditions. Long service life. Lower emission rate. Better fuel efficiency High specific power. Increased volumetric efficiency. Better starting of engine in winter and cold starting conditions because of increased compression ratio. Decreases knocking due to better combustion. More effective combustion in low load and at idling speed. Sparkplug tip temperature is reduced which in turn reduces preignition. Life of vehicle increases.

Carbon or soot in sparkplug. Maintenance cost of sparkplug is increased. Better design of cylinder head is needed for accommodation of two sparkplugs. Cost of engine is increased. Only overhead combustion chamber need to be used.

Twin spark engines are implemented in ALFA ROMEO cars of version

ALFA ROMEO GT ALFA ROMEO 145 ALPA ROMEO 146

DTS-i and DTS-Si are Bajaj Auto exclusive technologies in India. DTS-i was first introduced in the Pulsar 150/180/200 models in 2003. The DTS-Si technology came in the XCD 125 in 2007 and currently also available on Platina 125 and XCD 135. The DTS- Fi technology was introduced in the pulsar 220 models. Bajaj displayed the 220 DTS-Fi in 2006.

Twin spark ignition engine has more advantages from single spark ignition engine.
Emissions and knocking of engines are one of the major drawbacks of automobile engines. These factors are reduced by using twin spark engines. Hence Twin spark ignition engines should be used widely in automobiles which in turn increase the performance of the vehicle.