Patent ID: 6986342

Claim:
A method of controlling combustion phasing in a homogenous charge compression engine, comprising the steps of: providing a homogenous charge compression ignition engine of the type operable to compress a combustible mixture of fuel and air until the mixture autoignites without the introduction of a spark, the engine having at least one combustion chamber; providing a corona discharge device operable to create free radicals and ionize gases when energized and disposed in the gases; disposing the corona discharge in air; selectively energizing the corona discharge device to create free radicals and ionize some of gases in the air; introducing some of the free radicals and ionized gases into the combustible mixture so as to alter the mixture reactivity of the combustible mixture and to adjust the combustion phasing of the engine; and adjusting the energizing of the corona discharge device so as to control combustion phasing in the engine.