Öivind Andersson

Detailed Heat Release Analyses With Regard To Combustion of RME and Oxygenated Fuels in an HSDI Diesel Engine

Experiments on a modern DI Diesel engine were carried out: The engine was fuelled with standard Diesel fuel, RME and a mixture of 85% standard Diesel fuel, 5% RME and 10% higher alcohols under low load conditions (4 bar IMEP). During these experiments, different external EGR levels were applied while the injection timing was chosen in a way to keep the location of 50% heat release constant. Emission analysis results were in accordance with widely known correlations: Increasing EGR rates lowered NOx emissions. This is explained by a decrease of global air-fuel ratio entailing longer ignition delay. Local gas-fuel ratio increases during ignition delay and local combustion temperature is lowered. Exhaust gas analysis indicated further a strong increase of CO, PM and unburned HC emissions at high EGR levels. This resulted in lower combustion efficiency. PM emissions however, decreased above 50% EGR which was also in accordance with previously reported results. Besides those similar trends, fuel dependent differences in indicated thermal efficiency as well as CO, HC, NOx and especially PM emissions were observed. These differences were evaluated by detailed heat release analysis and explanation models based upon fuel characteristics as fuel viscosity and fuel distillation curve. Fuel spray evaporation and heat release were influenced by these fuel characteristics. Due to these characteristics it was concluded that RME has a higher tendency to form fuel rich zones at low load conditions than the other tested fuel types. Moreover it was found that improved fuel spray vaporisation is an option to improve exhaust emissions at low load conditions. (Less)

Analysis of Smokeless Spray Combustion in a Heavy-Duty Diesel Engine by Combined Simultaneous Optical Diagnostics

A heavy-duty diesel engine operating case producing no engine-out smoke was studied using combined simultaneous optical diagnostics. The case was close to a typical low-load modern diesel operating point without EGR. Parallels were drawn to the conceptual model by Dec and results from high-pressure combustion vessels. Optical results revealed that no soot was present in the upstream part of the jet cross-section. Soot was only observed in the recirculation zones close to the bowl perimeter. This indicated very slow soot formation and was explained by a significantly higher air entrainment rate than in Decs study. The local fuel-air equivalence ratio, Φ, at the lift-off length was estimated to be 40% of the value in Decs study. The lower Φ in the jet produced a different Φ-T history, explaining the soot results. The increased air entrainment rate was mainly due to smaller nozzle holes and increased TDC density. Furthermore, increased injection pressure was believed to reduce the residence time in the jet, thus reducing the soot formation. OH was detected at the periphery of the jet, upstream of the location where fuel started to react on the jet centerline. The OH region extended relatively far into the jet, further supporting the conclusion of a less fuel-rich jet in the current case. Partially oxidized fuel (POF) was found at the center of the jet, downstream of the lift-off position. This indicated that the temperature needed to start chemical reactions inside the jet had not been obtained at the lift-off position. The high-temperature reaction zone at the periphery thus added heat over a distance before POF was observed on the centerline.

A review of design considerations for light-duty diesel combustion systems

Practical aspects of light-duty diesel combustion system design are reviewed, with an emphasis on design considerations reported by manufacturers and engine design consultancies. The factors driving the selection of compression ratio, stroke-to-bore ratio, and various aspects of combustion chamber geometry are examined, along with the trends observed in these parameters in recently released engines. The interactions among geometric characteristics, swirl ratio, and the fuel injection nozzle parameters are also reviewed.

QUANTITATIVE MEASUREMENTS OF SPECIES AND TEMPERATURE IN A DME-AIR COUNTERFLOW DIFFUSION FLAME USING LASER DIAGNOSTIC METHODS

A diffusion flame of dimethyl ether (DME) and air in a counterflow burner has been investigated experimentally by means of different laser-based methods. Quantitative measurements of temperature, O2 concentration, and OH concentration have been carried out using dual broadband rotational coherent anti-Stokes Raman Spectroscopy (CARS), Rayleigh scattering and laser-induced fluorescence (LIF). Furthermore a qualitative formaldehyde profile has been measured using LIF. The measured profile has been compensated for fluorescence signal quenching and the Boltzmann distribution to obtain a representative qualitative formaldehyde profile for the flame.

Effect of Piston Shape and Swirl Ratio on Engine Heat Transfer in a Light-Duty Diesel Engine

Heat transfer losses are one of the largest loss contributions in a modern internal combustion engine. The aim of this study is to evaluate the contribution of the piston bowl type and swirl ratio to heat losses and performance. A commercial CFD tool is used to carry out simulations of four different piston bowl geometries, at three engine loads with two different swirl ratios at each load point. One of the geometries is used as a reference point, where CFD results are validated with engine test data. All other bowl geometries are scaled to the same compression ratio and make use of the same fuel injection, with a variation in the spray target between cases. The results show that the baseline case, which is of a conventional diesel bowl shape, provides the best emission performance, while a more open, tapered, lip-less combustion bowl is the most thermodynamically efficient. The results also show that the effects of swirl are not consequent throughout all piston geometries, as the flow field response to swirl variations is different in the various piston geometries. (Less)

A Correlation Analysis of the Roles of Soot Formation and Oxidation in a Heavy-Duty Diesel Engine

Emissions and in-cylinder pressure traces are used to compare the relative importance of soot formation and soot oxidation in a heavy-duty diesel engine. The equivalence ratio at the lift-off length is estimated with an empirical correlation and an idealized model of diesel spray. No correlation is found between the equivalence ratio at lift-off and the soot emissions. This confirms that trends in soot emissions cannot be directly understood by the soot formation process. The coupling between soot emission levels and late heat release after end of injection is also studied. A regression model describing soot emissions as function of global engine parameters influencing soot oxidation is proposed. Overall, the results of this analysis indicate that soot emissions can be understood in terms of the efficiency of the oxidation process. (Less)

Optical characterization of dimethyl ether (DME) for laser-based combustion diagnostics

Abstract Optical characteristics of dimethyl ether (DME) are presented, with emphasis on laser-based combustion diagnostics. DME is a well-known substance which has excellent properties as fuel for compression ignition (CI) engines. It is also believed to have suitable properties for laser diagnostics in CI engines, but reports of its optical properties are sparse in the literature. DME has therefore been investigated by flame-emission, optical absorption, laser-induced fluorescence (LIF), Raman spectroscopy, and rotational CARS. A preliminary evaluation or the potential for measuring NO in a DME flame is also presented. The Raman cross section of DME is more than twice as large as that of methane. DME absorbs in the VUV, but one absorption band extends into the UV where many tunable lasers radiate. This tail is displaced towards longer wavelengths with increasing temperature. Excitation at 193 nm yields a structured fluorescence between 350-550nm. The DME rotational CARS signal is ∼ 10 times weaker than ...

Quantitative Imaging of Equivalence Ratios in DME Sprays Using a Chemically Preheated Combustion Vessel

Dimethyl Ether (DME) has proved to be a promising fuel for diesel engines. It virtually eliminates particulate emissions and reduces the formation of nitrogenous oxides, without negatively affecting engine efficiency. Obtaining a deeper understanding of the mechanisms behind these properties is thus highly desirable. Various authors have suggested that the low NO emissions associated with DME are an effect of the mixing conditions, which are thought to differ from those of diesel sprays. To examine this, laser-Rayleigh imaging was employed for quantitative measurement of the local equivalence ratios in DME sprays. The quantitative images were analyzed using a statistical approach, in which probability distributions of ϕ -values for burning and for non-reacting sprays were compared. It was concluded that the diffusion flame is established in the stoichiometeric or slightly lean regions of the spray. Measurements were performed in an isochoric combustion vessel chemically preheated by igniting a lean mixture of CO and oxygen-enriched air. A multizone combustion model was used to analyze the DME combustion and the effects of preheating on the vessel atmosphere. The benefits and drawbacks of this set-up are discussed. (Less)

The Low Load Limit of Gasoline Partially Premixed Combustion Using Negative Valve Overlap

Partially premixed combustion has the potential of high efficiency and simultaneous low soot and NOx emissions. Running the engine in partially premixed combustion mode with high octane number fuels has the advantage of a longer premix period of fuel and air which reduces soot emissions, even at higher loads. The problem is the ignitability at low load and idle operating conditions. The objective is to investigate different multiple-injection strategies in order to further expand the low load limit and reduce the dependency on negative valve overlap in order to increase efficiency. The question is, what is the minimum attainable load for a given setting of negative valve overlap and fuel injection strategy. The experimental engine is a light duty diesel engine equipped with a fully flexible valve train system. The engine is run without boost at engine speed 800 rpm. The fuel is 87 RON gasoline. A turbocharger is typically used to increase the boost pressure, but at low engine speed and load the available boost is expected to be limited. The in-cylinder pressure and temperature around top-dead-center will then be too low to ignite high octane number fuels. A negative valve overlap can be used to extend the low engine speed and load operating region. But one of the problems with negative valve overlap is the decrease in gas-exchange efficiency due to heat-losses from recompression of the residual gases. Also, the potential temperature increase from the trapped hot residual gases is limited at low load due to the low exhaust gas temperature. In order to expand the low load operating region further, more advanced injection strategies are investigated. (Less)

A Study of In-Cylinder Soot Oxidation by Laser Extinction Measurements During an EGR-Sweep in an Optical Diesel Engine

Two competing in-cylinder processes, soot formation and soot oxidation, govern soot emissions from diesel engines. Previous studies have shown a lack of correlation between the soot formation rate and soot emissions. The current experiment focuses on the correlation between soot oxidation rates and soot emissions. Laser extinction is measured using a red (690nm) laser beam, which is sent vertically through the cylinder. This wavelength is long enough to minimize absorption interference from poly-aromatic hydrocarbons, while still in the visible regime. It is modulated at 72 kHz in order to produce 10 pulses per crank angle degree at an engine speed of 1200 rpm. The intake oxygen concentration is varied between 9% and 21%. The time resolved extinction measurements are used to estimate soot oxidation rates during expansion. High-speed video imaging is used in conjunction with the laser-extinction technique to indicate the location of the sooting regions, and to assess beam steering effects. The oxidation processes are described using single exponential decay fits and an attempt to correlate them with the late cycle rate of heat release was made. (Less)