Spark ignition system and spark plug for ultra lean fuel/air mixtures

A spark ignition system of an internal combustion engine having a cylinder head, cylinder sidewalls, and a piston defining a combustion zone, said cylinder head having a threaded opening and a spark plug positioned in the opening and in communication with the combustion zone, comprising:

• a controllable spark initiation system;
• said spark plug having first and second ends and first and second end portions, said spark plug first end portion having a connecting element formed of electrically conductive material having a threaded outer surface mateable with the opening of the cylinder head, a cavity of ring configuration, a first electrode axially positioned within the cavity, the electrode having a cavity containing a vaporizable medium to form a heat pipe to dissipate heat from the first end of the spark plug and insulation extending about the first electrode and a second electrode of ring configuration positioned between the insulation and the connecting element and in electrical contact with the connecting element;
• said spark plug second end portion having a chamber defined by a second end portion of the first electrode, and an electrical terminal connectable to the spark initiation system, and
• a plurality of serially connected high voltage rectifiers connected on one end to a first end portion of the first electrode and connected on the other end to the spark initiation system and being positioned within the chamber, a second end portion of the second electrode extending about the second end portion of the first electrode and insulation positioned between the second end portions of the first and second electrodes and covering the second end portion of the second electrode, said first and second electrodes second end portions being of a construction sufficient to generate a capacitance greater than about 1000 pF.