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Powertrain Systems

Gasoline Engine Management Systems

Delphi Ignition Coils

Delphi Ignition Coils supply the required electrical energy needed to ignite air-fuel mixtures in an engine's combustion chamber.  They are designed to meet a wide variety of continually evolving requirements for combustion calibrations.  Delphi Ignition Coils are also designed to operate dependably and reliably under all operating conditions and throughout the entire engine speed range to help manufacturers meet the highest engine performance, exhaust emissions, and fuel economy objectives.

Delphi offers the most comprehensive line of ignition coils and smart ignition systems in the industry.  Packaging options include the following:

  • Pencil coils
  • Plug top coils
  • Coil-near-plugs
  • Waste spark systems

All design options are available in single coil, multi-coil packs, and cassette configurations. 

Benefits

  • Improved dwell accuracy decreases module and coil temperatures for greater reliability
  • Noise abatement material between laminations reduces audible coil noise
  • Cassettes have improved primary connector for greater ease of assembly compared to designs with one connector for each coil
  • Lower primary inductance provides high-speed performance
  • Early and precise electronic spark timing helps improve fuel economy and provides faster crank-to-run
  • Higher energy delivered to combustible mixture provides cleaner combustion to help manufacturers meet on-board diagnostics (OBD II) requirements
  • Direct connection to spark plugs (via small boot) eliminates spark plug wires
  • Composite iron coils provide programmable energy
  • Coil per cylinder dwell overlap electronics deliver better high speed performance and better heat dissipation compared to some conventional technologies
  • Coil per cylinder ramp and fire electronics decrease power dissipation and increase efficiency
  • Reduced radio frequency interference (RFI) compared to some conventional coil designs

Typical Applications

Delphi Ignition Coils can be designed for use with conventional multi-port fuel injection or gasoline direct injection (GDi) engines.  Delphi offers ignition coils for a wide range of gasoline engine products including the following:

  • Automotive
  • Motorcycles
  • Marine engines
  • Commercial products
  • Power sports products

Delphi's Ignition Coils Product Portfolio

  • Delphi Pencil Coils are designed to take advantage of unused space typically found above a conventional spark plug (spark well).  Their compact size enables them to fit directly into any typical spark plug hole (>23 mm of inside diameter) of four-valve engines.  Delphi pencil coils are available in a variety of configurations and they are offered with outside diameters ranging from 22.0 mm to 29.1 mm, and energy rates from 35 mJ to 80 mJ (depending on size).  They can include magnetic biasing that provides a combination of small size, high energy performance, and ease of packaging.  Additional options include:
    • Igniter
    • Twin spark capability
    • Cassette design
    • Conventional or boltless fastening
    • Ion Sense capability
    • Multi-Charge feature

Delphi Pencil Coils

  • Delphi Gasoline Direct Injection (GDi) Pencil Coils offer the highest energy density coil in the industry and industry-leading durability.  They are designed to provide variable energy output to match engine operating conditions and supply the required energy level needed to ignite a diluted stratified charge.  Typically, they are packaged within the GDi cylinder head space constraints.

 

Delphi Gasoline Direct Injection (GDi) Pencil Coil

  • Delphi Plug Top Coils are designed to be used when packaging constraints prevent the use of pencil coils (spark well inside diameter <22 mm) and when a high output energy coil is required (energy >80 mJ).  Secondary output energy ranges between 35 mJ and 100 mJ, depending on the size of the coil.  Delphi plug top coils are available in coil per cylinder configurations, either individual or cassette-type packages.  They offer small package size while providing the required output voltage to break the spark plug gap and the necessary high energy level to ensure and enhance combustion stability.  Options include:
    • Igniter
    • Twin spark capability
    • Cassette design
    • Conventional or boltless fastening
    • Ion Sense capability
    • Multi-Charge feature

 

Delphi Plug Top Coils

  • Delphi Coil-Near-Plugs are typically used in overhead valve (OHV) engine applications in which the spark plugs are located close to the exhaust system and, thus, will experience extreme temperatures.  Coil-near-plugs are connected to the spark plugs via short plug wires.  They feature coil per cylinder configurations and are available with or without integrated igniters.  Delphi coil-near-plugs offer high quality, robust durability and excellent reliability.

Delphi Coil-Near-Plugs

  • Delphi Waste Spark Pencil Coil Packs (PCP) provide one coil per two pairs of cylinders.  (Two coils for 4-cylider engines; 3 coils for 6-cylinder engines.)  Delphi waste spark PCP feature pencil coil technology in a lower cost waste spark configuration.  The pack design offers the highest energy density to enable mass reduction of up to 40 percent compared to conventional ignition coils.  Delphi waste spark PCP include:
    • Cassette/miniature package or semi-direct mount
    • Laminated core
    • Enhanced performance option

 

Delphi Waste Spark Pencil Coil Packs

  • Delphi Ignition Coils for Small Engines are typically used on one- and two-cylinder gasoline engines and range from small inductive ignition coils to stand-alone smart ignition modules that can adjust spark timing to help provide economical fuel consumption and optimal engine performance.  They offer a fully laminated core and a coil igniter circuit that provide reliable, robust design to meet harsh off-road conditions and demanding engine requirements.

 

Delphi Ignition Coil for Small Engines

  • Delphi Ion Sense Ignition Systems feature direct in-cylinder measurement of combustion quality.  They use conventional spark plugs as "in cylinder" sensors for combustion quality.  Delphi ion sense ignition systems also offer more precise misfire detection (determined by combustion results instead of speed calculations) and more accurate knock detection (measured by combustion signal not engine vibration).  In an ion sense ignition system, the igniter, bias and buffer circuits are fully integrated and encapsulated in the coil as one unit.  Ion sense ignition systems enable continued development of future functionality and advanced features such as:
    • Location of peak pressure (LLP)
    • Cold start compensation
    • Dilution control
    • Pre-ignition detection

 

Delphi Ion Sense and Multi-Charge Ignition Systems

  • Delphi Multi-Charge Ignition Systems feature a coil-per-cylinder control system that enables longer spark duration, increased spark energy and re-ignition in the event of combustion blow-out when liquid is present.  They offer multiple opportunities for the initiation of robust combustion, improved geometric strength, and compensation of fuel spray variation.  Delphi Multi-Charge Ignition Systems are designed for spray guided GDi applications and other engines that use highly diluted fuel mixtures.  Coil smart electronics are fully integrated and encapsulated.
Typical Delphi Coil Per Cylinder Ignition Performance Data

Measurement Description Pencil Coil
Multi-Port Fuel Injection
Pencil Coil
Gasoline Direct
Injection (GDi)
Coil-Near-Plug
Plug Top Coil
 Energy (1000 V zener load)
 40 mJ
 86 mJ
 90 mJ
 50 mJ
 Peak Secondary Current 1000 V zener load)  80 mA  120 mA
 110 mA
 70 mA
 Spark Duration 1000 V zener load)
 1.3 ms
 1.7 ms
 2.0 ms
 1.6 ms
 Secondary Voltage (* Primary Clamped)  34 kV
 39* kV
 40* kV
 36* kV
 Secondary Load
 25 pF
 25 pF
 30 pF
 30 pF
 Primary Resistance
 0.71 Ω
 0.52 Ω 0.43 Ω  0.44 Ω
 Primary Charge Time (14 V)
 2.2 ms
 3.4 ms
 3.1 ms
 2.0 ms
 Nominal Primary Current  7.5 A
 10.5 A
 12.5 A
 12.3 A
 Weight  175 g
 240 g
 370 g
300 g

(Note: Performance information is based on actual product data. Delphi can design an ignition system to meet specific customer requirements.)

Pencil Coils Accelerated Life Testing

Delphi Ignition Coils are designed for long-term durability and they consistently outlast products from major competitive suppliers as demonstrated by this graph showing accelerated life test results.

Performance Advantages

Delphi Ignition Coils and Ignition Systems are built of highly sturdy materials and designed for long-term durability and reliability. They feature cost-effective designs and are produced by smart manufacturing processes that enable successful implementation across a wide range of engine applications. Delphi offers manufacturers a complete systems integration approach to ignition systems development. Every step of the ignition process is analyzed, including the creation, transmission, timing and delivery of the ignition spark energy. This strategy provides optimized ignition systems tailored to customer requirements.

The Delphi Advantage

Delphi has a deep understanding of ignition systems and the combustion process. Our experience in ignition systems spans more than 100 years. We offer a low cost, global manufacturing footprint and the most comprehensive line of ignition systems in the industry. Our ignition products excel in performance, quality and durability. We provide advanced and innovative technologies designed to help our customers meet the market challenges of the future.

As a global leader in engine management systems technology, Delphi can help manufacturers meet emissions requirements, improve fuel economy and enhance performance. Delphi is a source for high value solutions and our systems expertise is built into every product. Delphi's flexible engineering approach encourages collaboration. And, Delphi has as thorough understanding of automotive markets around the world and a global network of resources.

 
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