ENOX Technologies, Inc., has developed a plasma combustion ignition
system that assures ignition stability and complete com bustion in
lean-burn engines. The patented INOx system significantly
lowers combustion temperature, improves engine efficiency, reduces
nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, extends engine life, and
reduces required engine maintenance. The key to combustionstability
in lean-burn engines is the duration of the ignition function or the
spark. In a conventional spark ignition system, the spark itself is
of very short duration. If the mix of air and fuel in the area of
the spark is not exact, there is poor combustion or no combus tion
at all. The INOx system is able to ignite very lean air/fuel
ratios in an open chamber cylinder design, with no engine modification
or tear down. The technology produces a continuous electrical discharge
at the gap of a conventional spark plug for any desired num ber of
degrees of engine rotation. The energy delivered ensures that combustion
will occur even at the leanest conditions.
The INOx technology reduces NOx formation
rates and NOx concentrations in the exhaust by lowering
combustion temperatures. Instal lation of the INOx ignition
system results in a 40 to 90 percent drop in NOx emissions
at rated load and speed without significant additional fuel consumption.
The system can be installed quickly because it requires no modification
of the engine’s head and is easily maintained.
The INOx system causes NOx emissions to
drop by consistently and completely firing very lean air/fuel mixtures
from increased turbocharger boost pressures and thus reducing com-bustion
temperatures. This leads to lower NOx formation rates
and reduced NOx concentrations in the exhaust. In addition,
it produces more stable engine performance from extended duration
discharge.
ENOX has successfully retrofitted over 100 engines with its patented
INOx technology. Several of these clients have reported
over 80 percent reduction in NOx emissions. Devel-opment
and commercialization of the INOx system has resulted in substantial
growth of both staff and sales. Since 1990, ENOX has grown from
a staff of 3 to a company of 25.
In 1995, the INOx ignition system was placed among
"the 100 most technologically significant new products"
in the world when ENOX received the prestigious 1995 R&D 100
Award. The company’s success was again recognized in 1996 when
ENOX received one of the first Tibbetts Awards, which recognizes
"Models of Excellence" for the SBIR Pro gram at the state
and local level. ENOX also received the 1995 Massachusetts Small
Busi ness Innovative Research Award and the New Englander Award.
