Fuel-Injection Strategy for PCCI Engine Fueled by Mineral Diesel and Biodiesel Blends

Abstract

Premixed-charge compression ignition (PCCI) combustion is a novel combustion concept, whereby a partially homogeneous fuel–air mixture burns predominantly in a premixed combustion phase, which results in lower emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulates. This experimental study explored the possibility of PCCI combustion using three test fuels, namely, 20% (v/v) biodiesel blended with mineral diesel (B20), 40% (v/v) biodiesel blended with mineral diesel (B40), and baseline mineral diesel. To investigate the combustion, performance, and emission characteristics of the PCCI engine, experiments were performed in a single-cylinder research engine equipped with a common rail direct injection (CRDI) system. The effects of the fuel-injection pressure (FIP) and the timing of the start of main injection (SoMI) were investigated by varying the FIP from 400 to 1000 bar and the SoMI timing from 12° to 24° bTDC, respectively. Detailed investigations of the particulate morphology, particulate number–size distri...