Endoscopic Combustion Visualization for Spatial Distribution of Soot and Flame Temperature in a Diesohol Fueled Compression Ignition Engine

Abstract

A variety of research studies have been investigating the compatibility of primary alcohols as alternative fuels for diesel engines, in view of depleting crude oil reserves and resulting environmental degradation. Pollutants are formed in the engine combustion chamber and are mostly controlled using exhaust gas after-treatment technologies. However, active characterization of harmful pollutants such as soot and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) can be done in situ, at the locations of their formation in the engine combustion chamber by employing optical diagnostic techniques. In this study, the high temperature industrial endoscopy technique was adapted to a single cylinder diesel engine for in situ optical diagnostics of engine combustion for diesel and diesohols (diesel–alcohol blends) such as E20 and M20 fuels. In-cylinder combustion images were acquired by the endoscopic system and processed further for spatial soot and flame temperature distributions. Spatial distribution of in-cylinder soot was evaluated fro...