Effects of using a novel fuel vaporizer on partially premixed charge compression ignition (PPCCI) engine emissions, performance, and combustion characteristics

Abstract

Environmental concerns of toxic emissions and depleting of fossil fuel supplies due to their excessive usage as the main source of energy have raised interests in the creation of novel combustion modes that result in reduction of combustion temperatures and produce low emissions. In comparison to conventional diesel engines, the partially pre-mixed charged compression ignition (PPCCI) combustion strategy has demonstrated its ability to significantly reduce emissions carbon monoxide (CO), unburned hydrocarbon (HC), oxides of nitrogen (NOX), carbon dioxide (CO2) and smoke opacity. In order to compare the results with those of conventional engines, the current experimental work’s objective is to investigate the combustion, performance, and exhaust emissions characteristics of PPCCI engines. A single-cylinder, air-cooled, 4-stroke, direct-injection diesel engine that had been modified to run in PPCCI mode was used for the experiments. An external mixture formation technique with a fuel vaporizer is added to create the homogeneous mixture for PPCCI combustion. After being heated to the point of vaporization, liquid diesel fuel vapor was mixed with some fresh air and then the mixture directed to the intake manifold, where it was mixed with the remaining fresh air to create an external homogenous mixture that filled the combustion chamber. The tests were conducted at different premixed ratios of diesel fuel proportions of 15%, 20%, and 30% in the intake port. However, the fuel vaporizer chamber was kept at fixed temperature of 100 °C, 105 °C, 110 °C, 115 °C, and 120 °C. The PPCCI engine results were compared with the conventional engine data. Results from the PCCI technique at various premixed ratios indicate a certain decrement for HC, CO, NOX, and smoke emissions, rising in BTE “brake thermal efficiency”. At 30% premixed ratio of the fuel vapour inducted at 110 °C in PCCI mode give the best results as the brake thermal efficiency raised from 28.8% for CDC mode to 34.2% for PCCI mode at full load. Additionally, NOX emissions decreased from 615 PPM to 550 PPM, HC emission decreased to 30 PPM, CO emission decreased from 0.09% to 0.06% and a decrease in smoke opacity from 38% to 19.3%.