No, replacing spark plugs with a large heating arc would not be sufficient to run an internal combustion (IC) engine without any fuel in the charge. The heating arc alone would not provide the necessary energy for the engine to function.
In an IC engine, the spark plug's primary function is to ignite the air-fuel mixture inside the combustion chamber. The spark produced by the spark plug creates a small, controlled explosion that initiates the combustion process. The fuel in the air-fuel mixture is crucial for this combustion to occur and generate the necessary power to run the engine.
Without fuel in the charge, the heating arc would not have anything to ignite or burn. The heating arc would indeed produce heat, but it would not sustain the combustion process required for the engine to operate. The combustion in an IC engine relies on the presence of fuel to release energy and generate the expanding gases that drive the engine's pistons.
Additionally, an IC engine operates based on the principles of the four-stroke or two-stroke cycle, which involve the intake of air-fuel mixture, compression, combustion, and exhaust. These cycles depend on the controlled combustion of fuel to produce power and operate the engine's components.
In summary, the heating arc alone cannot substitute for the fuel in an IC engine. The presence of fuel is essential for the combustion process that provides the necessary energy to power the engine.