A multistage combustion model and soot formation model for direct-injection diesel engines

Abstract

A multistage combustion model for diesel engines is presented in this paper. Three combustion stages, ignition of diesel, premixed combustion and diffusion combustion, are considered in the combustion process in a typical medium speed direct injection diesel engine. The transition from the ignition delay to the premixed combustion stage occurs when the highest temperature in the cylinder is beyond a critical value, and the transition from the premixed combustion model to the diffusion combustion model occurs when a calculated fraction of the premixed fuel is burned, which is determined from an empirical correlation based on the engine design and running conditions. Significant improvements in the predictions for in-cylinder pressure and heat release rate were achieved compared with previous models. A soot model based on the Hiroyasu soot formation mechanism and the Nagle and Strickland-Constable soot oxidation mechanism was implemented in a standard KIVA3V code. The effect of the OH radical in soot oxidation was also incorporated into the soot model. Computations show that OH plays an important role during the late combustion stage. Predicted soot and NOx were compared with measured values and a good agreement was achieved.