Haven't seen this one around... "Smart Plugs"
 

Anyone seen these?

SmartPlugs.com - Home Page (Flash)
Smart Plugs, Smart Plug by kNew Corporation
The SmartPlug™Catalytic Ignition System

Basically, it's a catalyst that auto-ignites fuel under heat/pressure, is compatible with many fuels, initially works like a glow plug, then stays "lit" while under load with no electrical requirement... It's supposed to be a replacement for your complete ignition system, and allow "Hyper-Lean Burn" which apparently is burning lean enough to not have NOx emissions. This, I gotta see.

The purchase link in the "store" is down, as they're "gearing up for higher production" at the moment.

US Patent No: (Can't find it yet.)

Im not sure if you are familiar with it or not, but it looks a lot like the firestorm spark plug, with a setup similar to the "Water Spark Plug" setup...

Plug
http://home.pacbell.net/gmeast/new_t...ickel_plug.jpg

Wiring Diagram...
http://www.geocities.com/waterfuel11..._explo_car.gif

Basically its a DIY, high output MSD setup that costs a heck of a lot less!!

Appearance wise, I still don't see any similarity... functionally, there is definitely no similarity at all, as far as I'm concerned...

Reportedly, this "Smart Plug" isn't a spark plug at all, rather a catalytic "glow plug", which only uses electrical load for a short time, then when engine conditions are accurate, it operates solely under heat load from the engine.

If I knew what kind of catalyst they're using, or if I could find out, I'd test something like this on a lawnmower or something. I'm somewhat interested as a result of pre-researching DIY direct injection systems for gasoline engines. This was a byproduct of my searching, but what I've posted is all I've been able to find on it, since 2004 I think they've dropped off the face of the earth.

Christ -

I remember these from around December 2005. They were also gearing up for mass production back then. Doesn't look like it ever reached the retail market. The latest newsflash is August 2003 :

SmartPlugs - News Releases

CarloSW2

One of those articles mentions steady-speed engines... that it's best put to use where variable timing isn't necessary.

Another part of the same article basically says that it's a ceramic "stick" plated with a catalyst - like platinum. I suppose someone could make something like that for testing purposes, if given access to industrial platinum? Or maybe just plain 'ole copper would work?

I think I still would rather have compression-ignited gas with Direct Cylinder Fuel Injection.

It sounds like they are making a fancy glow plug for model airplane engines. Nothing fancy about a tungsten wire that glows. Those engines run alcohol based fuel with varying abounts of nitromethane & oil.

Apparently, the design is able to account for timing changes due to increased or decreased load. (The design that was meant for automobiles and non-steady speed engines).