CFD Guided Gasoline Compression Ignition Engine Calibration

Abstract

One of the attractive alternatives to traditional spark ignition engines is the gasoline compression ignition (GCI) engine technology. Fuels with octane numbers lower than those of market gasolines have been identified as a viable option for GCI engine applications. Their longer ignition delay time characteristics compared to diesel fuel and their similar volatility features compared to gasoline fuels make them interesting to be explored. In this study, we have numerically investigated the effect of different injection timings at part-load conditions using a research octane number (RON) 75 fuel in gasoline compression ignition single cylinder engine. Full cycle GCI computational fluid dynamics (CFD) engine simulations have been successfully performed while changing the start of injection (SOI) timing from −60° to −10° CAD aTDC at 5bar net indicated mean effective pressure (IMEPn). The effect of SOI on mixing, combustion phasing and engine-out emissions is investigated using detailed equivalence ratio-temperature maps. Also, the effects of different rates of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) on the combustion and emissions characteristics are investigated. Rebreathing valves profiles along with double injection strategies are also examined in the current study. Fuel consumption, soot, nitric oxides (NOx), hydrocarbon (HC) emissions and combustion phasing (CA50) are the targeted parameters throughout this study. Optimum engine parameters to obtain the best combination of the targeted properties were identified.