The thermodynamic analysis of an electrically supercharged Miller Cycle gasoline engine with early intake valve closing

Abstract

Electric superchargers are able to improve the thermodynamic process of gasoline engines by self-adapting running state to dominate intake air in all operation conditions. This paper proposes a novel approach for electrically supercharged Miller Cycle with early intake valve closing based on thermodynamics to settle the fuel economy problem of gasoline engines at low load operations by taking advantages of the domination of electric superchargers to intake air. Electrically supercharged Miller Cycle with early intake valve closing was realized by matching an electric supercharger, redesigning the inlet cam, and setting the intake valves closing before bottom dead center while keeping intake valves opening constant. An over-expanded engine cycle is attempted to be used to promote thermal efficiency by increasing geometric compression ratio, in addition to maintaining the effective compression ratio. Here, it has been attempted to systematically analyze the law of the energy losses of the electrically supercharged Miller Cycle gasoline engine with early intake valve closing using a reliable thermodynamic model from the perspective of heat engine. The results indicate that electrically supercharged Miller Cycle with early intake valve closing could improve the thermal efficiency of gasoline engines by significantly decreasing the pumping and exhaust losses.