This research will demonstrate that Reactivity Controlled Compression Ignition (RCCI) has several advantages over other LTC concepts in regards to fuel flexibility and combustion controllability. RCCI is a dual-fuel partially premixed combustion concept. In this strategy, a low reactivity fuel, such as gasoline or an alcohol fuel, is premixed via port fuel injection (PFI) and a high reactivity fuel, such as diesel fuel, is direct injected (DI) during the compression stroke. Once it was clear that dual-fuel RCCI operation had great potential in terms of combustion controllability, which is a great challenge for LTC strategies, the study focused on alternative fuels with RCCI combustion. The light-duty engine was used to study two different fuel combinations: gasoline/diesel and methanol/diesel. In addition to the fuels comparison, a modified piston bowl geometry was studied and compared to the stock re-entrant bowl. The modified piston featured a wide/shallow bowl with a matched geometric compression ratio to the stock piston of ~17.3. Using the modified piston, the gross indicated efficiency of RCCI combustion was significantly improved at light loads due to increases in combustion efficiency and decreases in heat transfer losses. At higher loads the modified piston also performed better than the stock piston, but the improvements were not as significant. The final portion of this research looks at the effects of cetane improvers on gasoline, ethanol, and methanol's fuel reactivity and the implications for RCCI combustion. In all three base fuels it was found that 2-ethylhexyl nitrate is more effective at increasing fuel reactivity (i.e., suppressing the octane number) compared to di-tert-butyl peroxide. However, 2-ethylhexyl nitrate has a potential disadvantage due its nitrate group, which can manifest itself as NOx emissions in the exhaust. The relationship between the fuel-bound nitrate group and the engine-out NOx emissions was extensively characterized. It was also observed that methanol's response to cetane improvers was better than that of ethanol, in spite of the fact that they have similar reactivities in their neat form.

Abstract : Among the various alternative fuels, natural gas is considered as a leading candidate for heavy-duty applications due to its availability and applicability in conventional internal combustion diesel engines. Compared to their diesel counterparts natural gas fueled spark-ignited engines have a lower power density, reduced low-end torque capability, limited altitude performance, and ammonia emissions downstream of the three-way catalyst. The dual fuel diesel/natural gas engine does not suffer with the performance limitations of the spark-ignited concept due to the flexibility of switching between different fueling modes. Considerable research has already been conducted to understand the combustion behavior of dual fuel diesel/natural gas engines. As reported by most researchers, the major difficulty with dual fuel operation is the challenge of providing high levels of natural gas substitution, especially at low and medium loads. In this study extensive experimental and simulation studies were conducted to understand the combustion behavior of a heavy-duty diesel engine when operated with compressed natural gas (CNG) in a dual fuel regime. In one of the experimental studies, conducted on a 13 liter heavy-duty six cylinder diesel engine with a compression ratio of 16.7:1, it was found that at part loads high levels of CNG substitution could be achieved along with very low NOx and PM emissions by applying reactivity controlled compression ignition (RCCI) combustion. When compared to the diesel-only baseline, a 75% reduction in both NOx and PM emissions was observed at a 5 bar BMEP load point along with comparable fuel consumption values. Further experimental studies conducted on the 13 liter heavy-duty six cylinder diesel engine have shown that RCCI combustion targeting low NOx emissions becomes progressively difficult to control as the load is increased at a given speed or the speed is reduced at a given load. To overcome these challenges a number of simulation studies were conducted to quantify the in-cylinder conditions that are needed at high loads and low to medium engine speeds to effectively control low NOx RCCI combustion. A number of design parameters were analyzed in this study including exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) rate, CNG substitution, injection strategy, fuel injection pressure, fuel spray angle and compression ratio. The study revealed that lowering the compression ratio was very effective in controlling low NOx RCCI combustion. By lowering the base compression ratio by 4 points, to 12.7:1, a low NOx RCCI combustion was achieved at both 12 bar and 20 bar BMEP load points. The NOx emissions were reduced by 75% at 12 bar BMEP while fuel consumption was improved by 5.5%. For the 20 BMEP case, a 2% improvement in fuel consumption was achieved with an 87.5% reduction in NOx emissions. At both load points low PM emissions were observed with RCCI combustion. A low NOx RCCI combustion system has multiple advantages over other combustion approaches, these include; significantly lower NOx and PM emission which allows a reduction in aftertreatment cost and packaging requirements along with application of higher CNG substitution rates resulting in reduced CO2 emissions.

Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicle Technologies for Improved Environmental Performance: Towards Zero Carbon Transportation, Second Edition provides a comprehensive view of key developments in advanced fuels and vehicle technologies to improve the energy efficiency and environmental impact of the automotive sector. Sections consider the role of alternative fuels such as electricity, alcohol and hydrogen fuel cells, as well as advanced additives and oils in environmentally sustainable transport. Other topics explored include methods of revising engine and vehicle design to improve environmental performance and fuel economy and developments in electric and hybrid vehicle technologies. This reference will provide professionals, engineers and researchers of alternative fuels with an understanding of the latest clean technologies which will help them to advance the field. Those working in environmental and mechanical engineering will benefit from the detailed analysis of the technologies covered, as will fuel suppliers and energy producers seeking to improve the efficiency, sustainability and accessibility of their work. Provides a fully updated reference with significant technological advances and developments in the sector Presents analyses on the latest advances in electronic systems for emissions control, autonomous systems, artificial intelligence and legislative requirements Includes a strong focus on updated climate change predictions and consequences, helping the reader work towards ambitious 2050 climate change goals for the automotive industry

In today’s global context, there has been extensive research conducted in reducing harmful emissions to conserve and protect our environment. In the automobile and power generation industries, diesel engines are being utilized due to their high level of performance and fuel economy. However, these engines are producing harmful pollutants that contribute to several global threats including greenhouse gases and ozone layer depletion. Professionals have begun developing techniques to improve the performance and reduce emissions of diesel engines, but significant research is lacking in this area. Recent Technologies for Enhancing Performance and Reducing Emissions in Diesel Engines is a pivotal reference source that provides vital research on technical and environmental enhancements to the emission and combustion characteristics of diesel engines. While highlighting topics such as biodiesel emulsions, nanoparticle additives, and mathematical modeling, this publication explores the potential additives that have been incorporated into the performance of diesel engines in order to positively affect the environment. This book is ideally designed for chemical and electrical engineers, developers, researchers, power generation professionals, mechanical practitioners, scholars, ecologists, scientists, graduate students, and academicians seeking current research on modern innovations in fuel processing and environmental pollution control.

Combustion Engines Development nowadays is based on simulation, not only of the transient reaction of vehicles or of the complete driveshaft, but also of the highly unsteady processes in the carburation process and the combustion chamber of an engine. Different physical and chemical approaches are described to show the potentials and limits of the models used for simulation.

Reactivity controlled compression ignition (RCCI) is a dual fuel combustion method that relies on the significant difference in reactivity of the fuels involved. RCCI had a low performance at high engine speed due to its high tendency on knocking and high pressure rise rate. Therefore, this study investigates the effect of the fuel stratification on the RCCI combustion and its extended to the interaction of two low reactive fuels, gasoline and compressed natural gas (CNG), in the RCCI combustion system. The investigation was experimentally performed on a single cylinder engine and constant volume chamber. The stratification was created by varying injection timing in the engine by injecting CNG at 80° and 120° before top dead center (BTDC) and varying injection gap in the constant volume chamber with the gaps between two fuel injection timing were varied between 0 ms to 20 manuscript The results in the engine experiment show that proportions of gasoline and CNG and degree of stratification of CNG were found to be effective means of combustion control within certain limits of engine load and HC and CO emissions could be significantly reduced. While in constant volume chamber it has a significant effect on the combustion phasing. Stratified mixture produces shorter combustion duration while homogeneous mixture produces longer duration.

Combustion has played a central role in the development of our civilization which it maintains today as its predominant source of energy. The aim of this book is to provide an understanding of both fundamental and applied aspects of low-temperature combustion chemistry and autoignition. The topic is rooted in classical observational science and has grown, through an increasing understanding of the linkage of the phenomenology to coupled chemical reactions, to quite profound advances in the chemical kinetics of both complex and elementary reactions. The driving force has been both the intrinsic interest of an old and intriguing phenomenon and the centrality of its applications to our economic prosperity. The volume provides a coherent view of the subject while, at the same time, each chapter is self-contained.