Combustion characteristics of SI engine fueled with methanol-gasoline blends during cold start

A 3-cylinder port fuel injection (PFI) engine fueled with methanol-gasoline blends was used to study combustion and emission characteristics. Cylinder pressure analysis indicates that engine combustion is improved when methanol is added to gasoline. With the increase of methanol, the flame developing period and the rapid combustion period are shortened, and the indicated mean effective pressure increases during the first 50 cycles. Meanwhile, a novel quasi-instantaneous sampling system was designed to measure engine emissions during cold start and warm-up. The results at 5°C show that unburned hydrocarbon (UHC) and carbon monoxide (CO) decrease remarkably. Hydrocarbon (HC) reduces by 40% and CO by 70% when fueled with M30 (30% methanol in volume). The exhaust gas temperature is about 140°C higher at 200 s after operation compared with that of gasoline.     

Effects of EGR on combustion process of DI diesel engine during cold start

Experiments on the effects of external and internal exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) on combustion and emission performance during a cold start process were investigated in a 135 single-cylinder DI diesel engine. Combustion was improved during the initial ignition cycles by introducing internal or external EGR. The addition of an appropriate amount of internal or external EGR can promote the combustion stability significantly. However, excessive amounts of external EGR could lead to extremely unstable combustion or even misfiring. An appropriate amount of internal or external EGR decreased smoke opacity effectively during a cold start. External EGR reduced NO _x emissions effectively while internal EGR led to an increase in NO _x emissions due to thermal effects. __________ Translated from Transactions of CSICE, 2007, 25(3): 193–201 [译自:内燃机学报]     

Effects of intake air temperature on SI engine emissions during a cold start

This paper presents the concept of preheating the intake air to reduce cold-start emissions from gasoline engines. The effects of intake air temperature on emissions from a gasoline engine were studied by using an air heater based on spark ignition. A light-duty vehicle test of cold-start emissions was carried out at an ambient temperature of?7°C according to New European Driving Cycle for Euro 3 and Euro 4 exhaust emission legislations. The results showed that preheating the intake air could effectively reduce both hydrocarbon (HC) and carbon monoxide (CO) emissions and improve fuel economy during a cold start. During idling conditions, the key phase of the HC and CO emissions was the first 40 s. With the aid of the air heater, cold-start HC and CO emissions from the vehicle were lower than the limit values in the Euro 3 and Euro 4 regulations.     

Combustion characteristics of a direct-injection diesel engine fueled with Fischer-Tropsch diesel

Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) diesel fuel is characterized by a high cetane number, a near-zero sulphur content and a very low aromatic level. On the basis of the recorded incylinder pressures and injector needle lifts, the combustion characteristics of an unmodified single-cylinder direct-injection diesel engine operating on F-T diesel fuel are analyzed and compared with those of conventional diesel fuel operation. The results show that F-T diesel fuel exhibits a slightly longer injection delay and injection duration, an average of 18.7% shorter ignition delay, and a comparable total combustion duration when compared to those of conventional diesel fuel. Meanwhile, F-T diesel fuel displays an average of 26.8% lower peak value of premixed burning rate and a higher peak value of diffusive burning rate. In addition, the F-T diesel engine has a slightly lower peak combustion pressure, a far lower rate of pressure rise, and a lower mechanical load and combustion noise than the conventional diesel engine. The brake specific fuel consumption is lower and the effective thermal efficiency is higher for F-T diesel fuel operation. Translated from Journal of Xi’an Jiaotong University, 2006, 40(1): 5–9 [译自: 西安交通大学学报]     

高原地区柴油机燃用生物柴油混合燃料排放特性研究

在高原环境（81kPa）下,对4100QBZL型柴油机燃用不同配比生物柴油混合燃料后的排放特性进行了实验研究。实验结果表明：与燃用柴油相比,各工况下,HC、CO和碳烟的排放均有不同程度的降低（分别平均下降4．5％～38．4％、15．4％～43．9％和12．5％～65．5％）,高负荷低转速工况下效果尤为明显;NOx的排放也得到明显改善,只有纯生物柴油的NO。排放较柴油上升了0％～2．1％,其他指标均下降（平均下降4．4％～4．9％）。综合考虑,燃用掺混比为30％以内的生物柴油混合燃料,能同时有效地降低HC、CO、NOx和碳烟的排放。     

Experimental study of gasoline-ethanol-hydrogen blends combustion in an SI engine

This study presents experimental results of engine performance, combustion and emissions in an SI engine fueled by gasoline-ethanol-hydrogen blends. In the experimental studies, engine performance and emission values were analyzed fueled by gasoline, gasoline-ethanol and gasoline-ethanol-hydrogen blends, respectively. When ethanol has been added volumetrically to gasoline 20% of ethanol (G80E20), engine performance and emissions have been worsened. However, the engine performance and emission values have been improved with the adding of hydrogen to blend. The results showed that the addition of hydrogen to the gasoline-ethanol blend improved the combustion process and improved the combustion efficiency, expanded the combustibility range of the gasoline-ethanol blend, reduced emissions. But, nitrogen oxide emission values increased with the adding of hydrogen.     

燃烧室内积聚燃料在柴油机冷起动过程中的蒸发方式初探

针对燃烧室内积聚燃料作用机理未明的现状,在分析了积聚燃料蒸发特点的基础上,提出了液滴蒸发模型和液膜蒸发模型;并对一台单缸自然吸气式直喷柴油机在0℃冷起动时的积聚燃料蒸发情况进行了仿真模拟计算。结果表明:对于相同量的燃料,液膜厚度从25μm到20μm导致缸内的燃空比减少了2%,而从25μm到30μm却增加了3%的燃空比,说明油膜较厚时能够较快蒸发;且油膜蒸发是燃烧室内积聚燃料冷起动时蒸发主要方式。为进一步改善柴油机冷起动性能提供了依据。     

Investigation on the cold start characteristics of a hydrogen-enriched methanol engine

This paper experimentally investigated the effect of hydrogen addition on the cold start performance of a methanol engine. The test was conducted on a modified four-cylinder gasoline engine. An electronically controlled hydrogen injection system was applied to realize the hydrogen port injection. The engine was started at an ambient temperature of 25 °C with two hydrogen flow rates of 0 and 189 dm³/s, respectively. The results demonstrated that hydrogen addition availed elevating the peak engine speed and cylinder pressure during the cold start. Both flame development and propagation periods are shortened after the hydrogen addition. When the hydrogen volume flow rate was raised from 0 to 189 dm³/s, HC, CO and total number of particulate emissions within 19 s from the onset of cold start were reduced by 68.7%, 75.2% and 72.4%, respectively. However, because of the enhanced in-cylinder temperature, NO_x emissions were increased after the addition of hydrogen.     

Idle characteristics of a hydrogen fueled SI engine

This paper investigates the effect of the equivalence ratio Φ and ignition advance angle θ_i on idle characteristics of a turbocharged hydrogen fueled SI engine. The experimental data was conducted under various operating conditions including different Φ and θ_i. It is found that, the ignition advance angle at MBT point decreases gradually with the equivalence ratio increasing from 0.4 to 0.9. Indicated thermal efficiency decreases as Φ increases. Emissions of NOx increase as Φ increases. When Φ is kept constant, the stated emissions increase as θ_i increases. During idle conditions of a hydrogen fueled engine, a lean mixture with an Φ less than 0.4 is suitable, and the θ_i should be increased appropriately. The maximum cylinder pressure rises with an increase of Φ and θ_i. The trend of the maximum rate of pressure rise is similar at different Φ. Only under the conditions of Φ = 0.4 and θ_i < 10 °CA, the maximum pressure rise rate remains almost unchanged.     

Combustion and emission characteristics of a spray guided direct-injection spark-ignition engine fueled with natural gas-hydrogen blends

Combustion and emission characteristics of a spray guided direct-injection spark-ignition engine fueled with natural gas-hydrogen blends were investigated. Results show that the brake thermal efficiency increases with the increase of hydrogen fraction and it shows an increasing and then decreasing trend with advancing fuel-injection timing. For later injection timings, the beginning of heat release is advanced with increasing hydrogen fraction, while the beginning of heat release is advanced and then retarded with the increase of hydrogen fraction at earlier injection timings. The flame development duration, rapid combustion duration and total combustion duration decrease with increasing hydrogen fraction. Maximum cylinder gas pressure, maximum mean gas temperature, maximum rate of pressure rise and maximum heat release rate show an increasing and then decreasing trend with the increase of hydrogen fraction. Brake NOx emission is increased and then decreased, while brake HC, CO and CO₂ emissions decrease with the increase of hydrogen fraction.     

Combustion characteristics of CI engine fueled with WCO biodiesel/diesel blends at different compression ratios and EGR

The present study investigated the effect of compression ratio (CR) with the use of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) technology on the performance of combustion characteristics at different CRs and engine loads; the brake thermal efficiency (BTE), specific fuel consumption (SFC), volumetric efficiency (VOL.EFF), exhaust gas temperature, carbon dioxide emission (CO₂), hydrocarbons (HC), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and oxygen content (O₂). The single-cylinder, four-stroke compression ignition engine was run on a mixture of diesel and biodiesel prepared from Iraqi waste cooking oil at (B0, B10, B20, and B30). A comparison has been achieved for these combustion characteristics at different blends, load, and CRs (14.5, 15.5, and 16.5) at 1500 rpm constant engine speed. The transesterification process is used to produce biodiesel and ASTM standards have been used to determine the physical and chemical properties of biodiesel and compare them to net diesel fuel. The preliminary conducting tests indicated that engine performance and emissions improved with the B20 mixture. Experimental test results showed an increase in BTE when CR increased by 17% and SFC increased by 23%. It also found a higher VOL.EFF by 6% at higher pressure ratios. A continuous decrease in BTE values and an increase in SFC were sustained when the percentage of biodiesel in the mixture was increased. Emissions of carbon dioxide, HC, and NOx increased by 12%, 50%, and 40%, respectively, as CR reached high values. NOx increased with the addition of biodiesel to 35%, which necessitated the use of EGR technology at rates of 5% and 10%. The results indicated that the best results were obtained in the case of running the engine with a mixing ratio of B20 with the addition of 10% EGR, NOx decreased by 47% against a slight increase in other emissions.     

Combustion analysis of a spark ignition engine fueled with gaseous blends containing hydrogen

This paper presents the combustion characteristics of a naturally aspirated spark ignition engine, intended for installation in vehicles, fueled with different hydrogen and methane blends. The experimental tests were carried out in a wide range of speeds at equivalence ratios of 1, 0.8 and 0.7 and at full load. The ignition timing was maintained for each speed, independently of the equivalence ratio and blend used as fuel. Four methane-hydrogen blends were used. In-cylinder pressure, mass fraction burned, heat released and cycle-by-cycle variations were analyzed as representative indicators of the combustion quality. It was observed that hydrogen enrichment of the blend improve combustion for the ignition timing chosen. This improvement is more appreciable at low speeds, because at high speeds hydrogen effect is attenuated by the high turbulence. Also, hydrogen addition allowed the extension of the LOL, enabling the engine to run stable in points where methane could not be tested. The main inconvenience detected was the high NO_x emissions measured, especially at stoichiometric conditions, due mainly to the increment in the combustion temperature that hydrogen produces.     

Investigation of hydrogen addition to methanol-gasoline blends in an SI engine

In this study, effects of hydrogen-addition on the performance and emission characteristics of Methanol-Gasoline blends in a spark ignition (SI) engine were investigated. Experiments were conducted with a four-cylinder and four stroke spark ignition engine. Performance tests were performed via measuring brake thermal efficiency, brake specific fuel consumption, cylinder pressure and exhaust emissions (CO, CO₂, HC, NOx). These performance metrics were analyzed under three engine load conditions (no load, 50% and 100%) with a constant speed of 2000 rpm. Methanol was added to the gasoline up to 15% by volume (5%, 10% and 15%). Besides, hydrogen was added to methanol-gasoline mixtures up to 15% by volume (3%, 6%, 9% and 15%). Results of this study showed that methanol addition increases BSFC by 26% and decreases thermal efficiency by 10.5% compared to the gasoline. By adding hydrogen to the methanol - gasoline mixtures, the BSFC decreased by 4% and the thermal efficiency increased by 2% compared to the gasoline. Hydrogen addition to methanol – gasoline mixtures reduces exhaust emissions by about 16%, 75% and 15% of the mean average values of HC, CO and CO2 emissions, respectively. Lastly, ?t was concluded that hydrogen addition improves combustion process; CO and HC emissions reduce as a result of the leaning effect caused by the methanol addition; and CO2 and NOx emission increases because of the improved combustion.     

火花点火发动机冷启动和暖机过程未燃碳氢排放及控制

火花点火发动机冷启动和暖机瞬态过程中未燃碳氢的排放占整个测试循环总排放量的60％～80％,因而其控制越来越受到广泛的重视。从缸内燃烧过程组织和排气后处理两个方面,阐述近年来国内外火花点火发动机在降低该过程未燃碳氢排放方面的研究成果及存在的问题,并且探讨了寻求新的降低未燃碳氢的方法和技术。     

Emission analysis of diesel engine fueled with soybean biodiesel and its water blends

The present study is carried out to formulate stable water-in-soybean biodiesel emulsion fuel and investigate its emission characteristics in a single cylinder diesel engine. Four types of emulsion fuels, which consist of a different percentage of water (5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%) in soybean biodiesel, were prepared with suitable surfactant and properties were measured. The physicochemical properties are on par with EN 14214 standards. The experimental result of test fuels indicates that the soybean biodiesel promotes a lower level of hydrocarbon (HC), carbon monoxide (CO) and smoke emissions compared to base diesel except for nitrogen oxide (NOx) emission. Increase in water concentration with soybean biodiesel significantly reduces the NOx emission and smoke opacity. The HC and CO emissions are further reduced with emulsified biodiesel up to 10% water concentration and beyond that limit, marginal increases are recorded. Overall, it is observed that inclusion of water with soybean biodiesel reduces the HC, CO, NOx and smoke emissions when compared to base diesel and soybean biodiesel, and 10% water in soybean biodiesel is an appropriate solution to reduce the overall emissions in the soybean-fuelled diesel engine.     

Exhaust emission study on neat biodiesel and alcohol blends fueled diesel engine

In this study, neat biodiesel with octanol additive was employed in a diesel engine and its effects on engine emission were studied. The five fuels evaluated were neat palm kernal oil biodiesel, octanol blended with biodiesel by 10%, 20%, and 30% volume, and diesel. All the emissions are reduced by the addition of octanol in biodiesel in all loads owing to the higher oxygen concentration of air/fuel mixtures and improved atomization. Hence, it is concluded that the neat biodiesel and octanol blends can be employed as an alternative fuel for existing unmodified diesel engines owing to its lesser emission characteristics.     

Emission analysis on compression ignition engine fueled with lower concentrations of Pithecellobium dulce biodiesel‐diesel blends

The present study investigates the effect of Pithecellobium dulce biodiesel (PDBD) blends with diesel fuel on compression ignition (CI) engine emissions. Initially, PDBD was prepared by using a base transesteri?cation process. The GC‐MS, ¹H NMR, and Fourier transform infrared characterization of PDBD was carried out, and fuel properties were determined. The experiments were conducted on a single cylinder, CI engine using three blended fuels: PDBD5 (5% biodiesel and 95% diesel), PDBD10 (10% biodiesel and 90% diesel), and PDBD20 (20% biodiesel and 80% diesel). The experimental outcomes revealed that 20% of PDBD reduces 19.64% carbon monoxide, 17.64% hydrocarbon, and 6.73% oxides of nitrogen emissions. Furthermore, from this study, it was inferred that the PDBD20 blend could be used as an alternative fuel for CI engines with no modi?cations in engine design.     

电喷汽油机燃用乙醇汽油的仿真研究

对吉利MR479Q型发动机建立一维仿真模型,并利用该模型进行了电喷汽油机燃用乙醇汽油的仿真研究。研究发现,在不改变发动机的前提下,燃用含适当比例乙醇的乙醇汽油对发动机的动力性有少量的提升,但由于乙醇的低位热值远小于汽油,发动机的比油耗也随着掺醇比例的提高而提高。     

An internal combustion engine platform for increased thermal efficiency,constant‐volume combustion,variable compression ratio,and cold start

An internal‐combustion engine platform, which may operate on a portfolio of cycles for an increased expansion ratio, combustion under constant volume, variable compression ratio, and cold start, is introduced. Through unique thermodynamic cycles, the engine may be able to operate on a much greater expansion ratio than the compression ratio for a significantly improved thermal efficiency. This improvement is attained without involving a complex mechanical structure or enlarged engine size, and at the same time without reducing the compression ratio. The engine with these features may serve as an alternative to the Atkinson cycle engine or the Miller cycle engine. Furthermore, based on the same engine platform, the engine may operate on other cycles according to the load conditions and environmental considerations. These cycles include those for combustion under constant volume, variable compression ratio under part load conditions, and cold start for alternative fuels. It is believed that the introduced thermodynamic cycles associated with the engine platform may enable a future internal combustion engine that could generally increase the thermal efficiency by about 20% under full and part load conditions and overcome the cold start problem associated with diesel fuels or alternative fuels such as ethanol and methanol. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Performance and emission characteristics of a SI engine fueled by low calorific biogas blended with hydrogen

In this study, an experimental investigation on a naturally aspirated (NA), 8-L spark ignition engine fueled by biogas with various methane concentrations - which we called the N₂ dilution test - was performed in terms of its thermal efficiency, combustion characteristics and emissions. The engine was operated at a constant engine rotational speed of 1800 rpm under a 60 kW power output condition and simulated biogas was employed to realize a wide range of changes in heating value and gas composition. The N₂ dilution test results show that an increase of inert gas in biogas was beneficial to thermal efficiency enhancement and NO_x emission reduction, while exacerbating THC emissions and cyclic variations. Then, as a way to achieve stable combustion for the lowest quality biogas, H₂ addition tests were carried out in various excess air ratios. H₂ fractions ranging from 5 to 30% were blended to the biogas and the effects of hydrogen addition on engine behavior were evaluated. The engine test results indicated that the addition of hydrogen improved in-cylinder combustion characteristics, extending lean operating limit as well as reducing THC emissions while elevating NO_x generation. In terms of efficiency, however, a competition between enhanced combustion stability and increased cooling energy loss was observed with a rise in H₂ concentration, maximizing engine efficiency at 5-10% H₂ concentration. Moreover, based on the peak efficiency operating point, a set of optimum operating conditions for minimum emissions with the least amount of efficiency loss was suggested in terms of excess air ratio, spark ignition timing, and hydrogen addition rate as one of the main results.