

There exist numerous and diversified designs of combustion systems but all are based on the same principles. Intense research is now in progress on the use of gaseous fuels and methanol, but this would necessitate certain adaptive charges in the combustion systems of the engines operated so far. The continuously rising prices of hydrocarbon fuels and the needs of environmental protection have determined the development trends of combustion systems and account for the preference for the compression-ignition engine over the conventional spark-ignition engine for driving vehicles. The internal combustion engine (ICE) is already 100 years old, no better prime mover for vehicle has so far been invented for common use.
