Reactivity Controlled Compression Ignition Research Articles

Optimizing Co-generation performance of reactivity controlled compression ignition engines with solar steam reforming of methanol; a thermoeconomic, economic and exergoenvironmental analysis

Reactivity-controlled compression ignition engines have garnered significant interest for their potential to deliver enhanced performance, particularly in environmental aspects. This study investigates the performance of such engines within a co-generation framework for simultaneous power and cooling production. Low reactivity fuel for the engine is derived from solar steam reforming of methanol, with waste heat recovered through a supercritical CO2 cycle and an absorption refrigeration cycle. The designed configuration undergoes comprehensive analysis encompassing thermodynamic, economic, and exergoenvironmental assessments, including parametric analysis. Optimal engine performance is evaluated through computational fluid dynamics, thermodynamic, and exergoenvironmental analyses across various syngas compositions and reforming conditions. Results indicate that a syngas portion of 60% at a reforming temperature and CH3OH to H2O ratio of 200 °C and 1.2 yields optimal engine performance. Besides, the inlet temperature of the CO2 turbine exhibits the greatest impact on co-generation performance. At the optimal state, co-generation's power and cooling load generation reach 467.8 kW and 225 kW, with a unit cost of 53.89 $/GJ, an exergy efficiency of 38.14%, a sustainability index of 1.622, and an exergoenvironmental impact index of 1.607.

Emission control in a dual fuel low temperature combustion engine at intermediate loads

Intermediate to high load operation in dual fuel reactivity controlled compression ignition (RCCI) techniques is restricted due to uncontrolled combustion that causes engine knocking. Dual fuel strategies with advanced pilot injection and near-top dead center (TDC) main injection timings are reported to enhance combustion control, albeit with increased soot emissions, reduction of thermal efficiency, and emergence of an intricate trade-off between total hydrocarbon (THC) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions. In order to address these conflicting issues, an intermediate engine load, corresponding to 6 bar gross indicated mean effective pressure at 1500 and 2200 rev/min engine speeds was investigated in this work. The main objectives of this work are (1) to obtain combination of control parameters to achieve near-zero engine-out NOx and soot emissions and high thermal efficiency while minimizing THC and CO emissions; (2) to understand the effectiveness of diesel oxidation catalysts (DOCs) for the oxidation and reduction of exhaust gas species in the dual fuel mode; and (3) to understand the oxidation characteristics of the soot generated from the dual fuel mode. Optimum dual fuel low temperature combustion strategies, in terms of diesel injection timings, quantity and exhaust gas recirculation levels, were identified using the statistical multi response signal to noise (MRSN) ratio method in which NOx, soot and indicated efficiency were response variables. The performance of commercial DOCs, with different precious metal (Pt and/or Pd) loadings, were also studied at optimum dual fuel strategies for gasoline-diesel dual fuel operations. High DOC outlet temperatures (>∼340°C), due to the exotherm generated by the oxidation of high concentrations of THC and carbon monoxide (CO) emissions from dual fuel operations, resulted in greater than 90% THC conversion efficiency. The exotherm decreased the nitric oxide (NO) oxidation whereas the nitrogen dioxide (NO2) reduction reactions were favored over the DOC in the dual fuel mode at the intermediate load operating condition. Thermogravimetric analysis of the soot showed higher activation energy (177.2 kJ/mol), formed at the dual fuel optimum condition, relative to the activation energy (162.7 kJ/mol) of the soot formed in conventional diesel combustion (CDC).

Exploring energy utilization of the methanol/dimethyl ether dual-fuel engine under the methanol reforming strategy: A comparison of different low-temperature combustion modes

Numerous studies have explored methanol and dimethyl ether (DME) as alternative engine fuels to enhance thermal efficiency and lower emissions. In this study, based on methanol reforming, a new potential strategy for the realization of the methanol/DME dual-fuel compression-ignition engine by fueling only methanol is proposed. The methanol/DME dual-fuel engine under three low-temperature combustion modes (i.e., reactivity controlled compression ignition (RCCI), reverse-reactivity controlled compression ignition (R-RCCI), and homogenous charged compression ignition (HCCI)) is computationally optimized, and the methanol reforming ratio is considered. The results demonstrate that the R-RCCI mode displays enhanced performance in both combustion efficiency and emissions, achieving an equivalent indicated specific fuel consumption (EISFC) of 152.3 g/kWh and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions far below the Euro VI regulatory threshold. A double injection of methanol with a minor secondary injection in the R-RCCI mode facilitates more pronounced stratified combustion, and the ringing intensity (RI) can be well controlled. The mode-specific optimal DME energy ratio was determined, approximately 40 % for RCCI and R-RCCI, and around 14 % for HCCI. The demand for the DME energy ratio can be realized by the onboard methanol reforming system, which demonstrates the feasibility of the combination of the fuel reforming strategy with low-temperature combustion modes.

Optimization of the full-load combustion schemes of n-butanol/biodiesel reactivity-controlled compression ignition (RCCI) toward high-efficiency and low-emission engines

Biodiesel and n-butanol, as popular alternative fuels, can be used in advanced reactivity-controlled compression ignition (RCCI) engines for efficient and clean combustion. However, the complex interactions between n-butanol and biodiesel, as well as the best combustion schemes at different loads, remain poorly understood. Given this, the objective of this paper is to identify optimal fuel organizations for n-butanol/biodiesel RCCI engines across different load scenarios by combining engine simulation with a global optimization algorithm, explore the potential synergies of control parameters, and analyze microscopic dual-fuel interactions based on the integrated average reaction path analysis. Results show that the optimal scheme at low load employs almost homogeneous fuel-air mixtures at elevated temperature atmosphere above 390 K, with n-butanol energy share exceeding 96% and optimal biodiesel injection timing between −70 and −50 °CA. Higher n-butanol ratio coupled with increased intake temperature improves engine performance. For mid load, biodiesel injection timing is retarded to −55 to −30 °CA, and biodiesel proportion is increased to introduce reactivity stratification, while maintaining its energy share below 20% to mitigate NOx emissions. Notably, biodiesel density is identified as the primary physical property influencing NOx formation. At high load, a split combustion scheme involving premixing and subsequent diffusion combustion is optimal. The physical effects of n-butanol addition minimally impact the low-temperature ignition of biodiesel, while its chemical effects significantly defer the low-temperature reactivity. The reaction path analysis reveals that n-butanol competes with biodiesel for OH radical consumption, with a large proportion of OH and HO2 consumed in the cyclic reactions of nC4H9OH and nC4H8OH. Adjusting the reactivity stratification affects the reaction state of n-butanol entrained by the biodiesel jets. Higher reactivity gradient intensifies biodiesel reactions to induce the pyrolysis of the involved n-butanol through nC4H8OH => 2C2H4 + OH, therefore resulting in more staged heat release.

A comparative study on combustion characteristics of PPC and RCCI combustion modes in an optical engine with renewable fuels

Application of renewable fuels in compression ignition engines provides one solution to reduce greenhouse gas emission in heavy-duty transportation sector. However, it is a big challenge to find a single alternative fuel to replace the traditional diesel under full load conditions. In this study, the combustion characteristics of two kinds of renewable fuels with different reactivity, namely methanol and hydrogenated catalytic biodiesel (HCB), were investigated in an optical engine under partially premixed combustion (PPC) and reactivity-controlled compression ignition (RCCI) modes, respectively. A two-color (2C) method was employed to quantify the in-flame soot formation. Meanwhile, the flame oscillation phenomenon was captured and evaluated. The results indicate that the RCCI mode exhibits reduced peak cylinder pressure, resulting in smoother and more stable combustion compared to that of the PPC mode. Moreover, the more uniform fuel distribution in the RCCI mode further decreases soot formation from the blended fuel. Additionally, with increasing methanol proportion, the rise in oxygen content within the blended fuel significantly reduces soot formation. The flame oscillations are primarily related to the rate of cylinder pressure variation. Under PPC mode, multi-point autoignition causes a rapid increase in cylinder pressure, leading to larger oscillation amplitudes (M15: 0.268, M25: 0.772). Conversely, under the RCCI mode, the heat release process is more stable, resulting in weaken oscillations (M15: 0.161, M25: 0.064) compared to that of PPC.

Characterization of pressure oscillations and combustion noise of hydrogen reactivity-controlled compression ignition (RCCI)

Knock and combustion noise are the main reasons limiting the increase in hydrogen (H2) replacement rate in H2 reactivity-controlled compression ignition (RCCI). This study aims to identify the knock-dominated mechanism and elucidate the characteristics of knock and combustion noise of H2 RCCI operated at a broad range of parameters through the combined analysis of the heat release profile and pressure oscillations. The results indicated that under inhomogeneous heat release conditions, the onset of pressure oscillations is mainly attributed to the local fast heat release at the initial combustion stage, but for the conditions with relatively homogeneous and high-reactivity mixture, the pressure oscillations are primarily excited by the end-gas autoignition. Compared with the single injection strategy, the double injection strategy with the first and second start of injection of −60 and −15°CA ATDC (SOI1/2 = −60/-15°CA ATDC) can effectively mitigate the pressure oscillations and shorten the propagation period of pressure waves. However, as the SOI2 is advanced to −30°CA ATDC, the pressure oscillations dramatically increase, because the enhanced fuel reactivity of premixed H2 exacerbates the end-gas autoignition. The results of frequency analysis of in-cylinder pressures show that with the increase in inhomogeneous combustion, the first resonance frequency reduces. As the intake pressure (Pin) is raised from 1.2 to 1.6 bar, the first resonance energy increases, since the elevated in-cylinder temperature associated with the piston compression during the compression stroke enhances the propagation and development of pressure waves. The high-order resonance is closely related to the autoignition of end gas with higher fuel reactivity. Overall, the combustion noise shows a good linear correlation with peak heat release rate for all the points investigated in this work, but the linearity of H2/polyoxymethylene dimethyl ethers RCCI is better than that of H2/diesel RCCI. Moreover, with the increase in Pin, the engine noise associated with the piston compression increases.

Numerical Investigations on Reducing Unburned Hydrocarbon and Carbon Monoxide Emissions in Reactivity-Controlled Compression Ignition Using Partial Reactivity Stratification with Alternative Fuels and Additive

<div>A numerical investigation has been performed in the current work on reactivity-controlled compression ignition (RCCI), a low-temperature combustion (LTC) strategy that is beneficial for achieving lower oxides of nitrogen (NO<sub>x</sub>) and soot emission. A light-duty diesel engine was modified to run in RCCI mode. Experimental data were acquired using diesel as HRF (high-reactivity fuel) and gasoline as LRF (low reactivity fuel) to check the accuracy and fidelity of predicted results. Blends of ethanol and gasoline with DTBP (di-tert-butyl peroxide) addition in a small fraction on an energy basis were used in numerical simulations to promote ignitability and reactivity enhancement of PFI charge. Achieving stable, smooth, and gradual combustion in RCCI is challenging at low loads, especially in light-duty engines, due to misfiring and poor combustion stability. DTBP is known for enhancing cetane number and accelerating combustion, and it is mixed in a PFI blend to avoid combustion deterioration. The factors governing reactivity stratification to achieve optimal combustion phasing were investigated in the present study. DTBP decomposition and its low-temperature oxidation chemistry were found to be responsible for affecting combustion phasing, heat release patterns, and emission trends. DTBP additive and different in-cylinder strategies were applied and studied to reduce unburned emissions. Adopting a multiple injection approach utilizing dual-pulse assisted in reducing HC and CO levels. It enhances combustion quality by providing adequate control over combustion phasing. Altering operating parameters like intake temperatures reduced HC, CO, and soot emissions by 97.6%, 57.6%, and 52.8%, respectively, compared to baseline gasoline/diesel RCCI data. Optimizing the injection timings of the first and second pulse helps achieve optimal combustion phasing and a 72.95% reduction in NO<sub>x</sub> emissions. The higher injection pressure of DI helped lower the CO and soot emissions by 53.33% and 51.84%, respectively.</div>

An Experimental and ANN Analysis of Ammonia Energy Integration in Biofuel Powered Low-Temperature Combustion Engine to Enhance Cleaner Combustion

In the pursuit of global net-zero emissions targets and cleaner combustion technologies, researchers are increasingly turning to innovative solutions. Ammonia, as a carbon-free fuel, holds promise for achieving low emissions and efficient combustion. This study explores the potential synergies of various ammonia shares (20%, 40%, and 60%) combined with Citronella biofuel in a Low-Temperature Combustion (LTC) Reactivity Controlled Compression Ignition (RCCI) engine. Comparative analysis between a 40% ammonia blend Citronella biofuel (A40) and a Standard Diesel (SDL) in an RCCI engine demonstrates significant reductions in oxides of nitrogen (by 17%), carbon dioxide (by 6.6%), and smoke (by 9.8%), along with a notable enhancement in Brake Thermal Efficiency (BTE) by 5.4% for A40. The validation of results using an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model shows robust coefficients of determination (97%), high R values (0.9945 to 0.9995), and low Root Mean Square Error values (ranging from 0.0219 to 0.0483). These findings strongly support the efficacy of the A40 blend, positioning it as a promising and viable alternative fuel for achieving cleaner combustion in LTC-RCCI engines.

Numerical and Optimization Studies on Reactivity Controlled Compression Ignition Engine with Hydrogen and Split Injections

Abstract Effective abatement of harmful tail-pipe emissions from fossil fuel run engines is achieved through low-temperature combustion strategies; Reactivity Controlled Compression Ignition mode of operation has been successful among such concepts. The present work deals with numerical work performed using ANSYS Forte software with n-heptane as a high-reactivity fuel and hydrogen in different proportions as a low-reactivity fuel, respectively. With total energy fixed, the amount of hydrogen is varied from 0-80% fuel injection is regulated accordingly. Pertinent engine in-cylinder parameters with patterns are extracted, emphasizing the combustion phenomena of RCCI operation with the lowest possible emissions targeted, with the combined effects of hydrogen induction, Start of Injection, and split injections. The contours of fuel vapour and emission parameters are obtained to relate the performance with emissions. It is noted that with a split injection strategy at 50/50 and 75/25 split strategy and 45-50% energy share from hydrogen, the NOx, Soot reductions and thermal efficiency penalty are in the range of about 5.5%, 24% and 7.5%, respectively, also, with 30% EGR, about 95% NOx reduction but with higher soot values. A 75/25 split and advanced injection timing of 25obTDC resulted in the RCCI mode of operation with reduced soot emissions, and the use of EGR has resulted in high levels of soot and poor fuel efficiency. Among the models of machine learning tested, Random Forest regressor emerged as the most suitable, with higher R2 values, indicating better predictive capability.

Numerical study on the effect of injection strategy on combustion and NO emission from different sources in a diesel/ammonia RCCI engine

Diesel/ammonia operation is one of the ways to efficiently utilize ammonia and reduce carbon emissions, however, the increase in fuel NO introduces serious emission problems. To explore the generation mechanisms of fuel NO and oxidant source NO, a multi-component diesel/ammonia chemical reaction mechanism was constructed in this study, and based on 3D CFD simulation and N-element tracking method, the combustion and different source NO emission characteristics of diesel/ammonia reactivity controlled compression ignition (RCCI) engine at low loads were investigated by pilot injection timing (SOI1) and pilot injection ratio (PIR). In addition, the effect of different first injection spray angle (SA1) and double injection spray angle (SAtotal) on the engine operation was investigated. The results showed that high PIR and delayed SOI1 enhanced the engine IMEP but led to high PRRmax. At a PIR of 15 %, total NO emissions increased as SOI1 advanced, and the trend was reversed when the PIR was higher than 15 %. Fuel NO was produced earlier than the oxidant source N∗O. In terms of 1 spatial distribution, high concentrations of both NO and N∗O were distributed in and around the secondary diesel fuel ignition location, and fuel NO began to be reduced where the oxidant source N∗O was rapidly formed. The reduction mechanism of NO in the cylinder was a multi-path reduction mechanism incorporating Thermal DeNOx, NO Reburning, and inverse reaction pathways for NO formation from the oxidant source. Appropriate reduction of the SAtotal can significantly reduce the total NO emission while maintaining no significant reduction in IMEP. When SAtotal was 82°, the total NO emission was only 16.3 % of the original spray angle and PRRmax was further reduced. After optimization, when a narrow SAtotal of 82°, SOI1 of −15° CA, and PIR of 35 % were used, the IMEP of the engine increased by 5.9 %, and the total NO emission was reduced by 86 %, while PRRmax did not exceed the PRR upper limit.

Enhancing the usability range of acetylene in CI engines through split injection of high-reactive fuel under RCCI operation: Optimized operability using an MCDM approach

Reactivity Controlled Compression Ignition (RCCI) has emerged as a promising solution to address the challenges of advanced combustion techniques in diesel engines, balancing combustion control and emission reduction. This study investigates the impact of split-injection high-reactivity fuel (HRF) dosing in RCCI to enhance charge homogeneity at lower injection timing advancements. It systematically explores progressive advancements in HRF injection timing, distinguishing between main and pilot injections. The main injection varied from 20° bTDC to 70° bTDC, while the pilot injection, relative to the main injection, spans 25°-40° CA ahead with a 5° progression. As an LRF, Port-injected Acetylene supplements the process with variable premixed ratios. Further, using a multi-criteria decision-making method (AHP), the study optimizes operating conditions, proposing a main injection at 20° bTDC, a pilot injection 40° CA ahead, and 70 % LRF participation. This optimized condition yields significant benefits such as 32.99 % higher brake thermal efficiency (BTE), 160 % longer premixed duration, 18.65 % lower maximum temperature, 89.41 % lower NO emissions, 91.83 % lower hydrocarbon (HC) emissions, 91.24 % lower CO emissions and 97.20 % lower smoke opacity compared to conventional diesel combustion (CDC) operation. The results highlight the advantages of multiple fuel injections in RCCI, improving blending characteristics at lower injection angles.

Adoptability assessment of HCDI and RCCI modes in plug-in parallel hybrid electric vehicles using sustainable fuels and model-based torque structure calibration strategies

In this research, a comparative analysis of plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) engine was conducted with two advanced low temperature combustion (LTC) techniques viz. Homogeneous charge with direct injection (HCDI) and reactivity-controlled compression ignition (RCCI), utilizing alternative fuels diethyl ether (DEE) and ethanol. This was attempted to exhibit the promising potential of LTC based PHEV to achieve the highest efficiency and low emissions. The experimental results disclosed that DEE powered HCDI can achieve superior thermal efficiency with an impressive peak torque of 14 Nm. On the other hand, ethanol powered RCCI produced a peak torque of 17.5 Nm with remarkable emission reduction characteristics, especially CO2. It was vindicated that HCDI-PHEV outperformed the RCCI-PHEV in terms of fuel economy despite both HCDI and RCCI being lower than the conventional diesel PHEV. The NOx emissions from HCDI were almost negligible. About 20 % lower nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions were recorded for RCCI respectively as compared to diesel (36 g/s). HCDI and RCCI showcased about 2 and 1.3 times higher soot emissions than diesel (7.12 g/s). Fuel economy was improved by 15 % and 43 % respectively under HCDI and RCCI modes over the conventional diesel mode of PHEV operation. When the PHEV was operated continuously for about 3.5 h, the battery's SOC dropped from 80 % to 45 % under diesel operation, whereas it only reached 50 % and 60 % under RCCI and HCDI mode operation. Low fuel consumption characteristics, acceptable torque production capabilities and ultralow NOx reduction potential established HCDI as the preferable choice for PHEV over RCCI.

Enhancing reactivity-controlled compression ignition engine performance: A response surface methodology approach with ammonium hydroxide-waste cooking oil biodiesel optimization

The focus on ammonium hydroxide, biodiesels and their combustion technology has garnered significant attention in pursuing carbon-neutral and carbon-free fuels to address greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and mitigate global warming. Low-temperature combustion (LTC) has been introduced as an alternative method to conventional compression ignition (CI) combustion. Reactivity controlled compression ignition (RCCI) can be achieved by introducing highly reactive waste cooking oil methyl ester (WCOME) oil directly into the manifold in intervals of 10% energy and injecting low-reactive ammonium hydroxide at 20%–50%. Utilizing the response surface methodology (RSM) approach, it was determined that for optimal operation in RCCI mode, an ideal ammonium hydroxide energy sharing (AHES) of 43% would account for the varying parameters and their effects on emissions and performance. The results of the experiments predicted a brake thermal efficiency (BTHE) of 34.85% and a brake specific energy consumption (BSEC) of 10.69 MJ/kWh. Meanwhile, a notable decrease in exhaust emissions was observed for HC, CO, CO2, NO x and smoke by 41.54%, 38.89%, 48.89%, 51.27% and 65.80% respectively when compared to conventional biodiesel combustion (CBC). The experimental result at maximum load operation with an AHES of 50% indicates that RCCI combustion led to an increase in thermal efficiency from 30.36% to 35.42%, and the in-cylinder pressure and heat release rate dropped from 83.42 bar to 59.64 bar and 78.68 kJ to 60.92 kJ, respectively. There was a significant reduction in HC, CO, CO2, NO x and smoke emissions recorded as 58.76 ppm, 0.11%v, 1.61%v, 442 ppm and 6.64 N, respectively, compared to CBC.

Determination of cyclic air-fuel ratio and analysis of low and high-frequency variations in dual-fuel RCCI engine

Higher cyclic variations (CVs) in the engine affect the performance, emissions and drivability of the vehicle. Higher CVs are one of the challenges in dual-fuel reactivity-controlled compression ignition (RCCI) engines, mainly at lower loads. Cyclic disparities in the charge preparation, such as air-fuel ratio (AFR), result in CVs in the combustion parameters. The pressure moment method (PMM) is employed in the gasoline/methanol-diesel RCCI engine to estimate cyclic disparities in AFR. The logged cyclic in-cylinder pressure is used to calculate the cyclic AFR. After determining the cyclic AFR, statistical analysis and return maps are applied for the analyses of variations in the AFR, CA10, CA50, pmax and IMEP. For examining the low and high-frequency disparities in cyclic [Formula: see text] and its relationship with CA10, Wavelet transform (WT) is further applied. A good relationship is found between the estimated mean AFR and the experimental mean AFR. Return maps signify that for the earlier start of injection (SOI), the data points of AFR are more scattered correspondingly, the data points for CA10, CA50, pmax and IMEP are more scattered. WT analysis shows that both high-frequency and low-frequency variations are present in dual-fuel RCCI combustion. It is found that high-frequency discrepancies in the AFR are consistent throughout the engine cycles for all the tested injection timings. Wavelet results confirm that high-frequency fluctuations in AFR result in disparities in CA10 and IMEP.

Towards Direct Numerical Simulations of Reactivity-Controlled Compression Ignition Engine Using n-Octanol/Ethanol Fuel Blends

AbstractThe results of a two-dimensional direct numerical simulation of a lean n-octanol-ethanol fuel blend under Reactivity Controlled Compression Ignition (RCCI) conditions are presented in this paper. Stratified temperature and high reactivity fuel fields of Gaussian, bi-modal, and log-normal distributions are studied for uncorrelated and correlated scenarios. The pimple loop is made to run twice to achieve compression heating. A chemical mechanism with 171 species and 734 reactions was developed to capture autoignition characteristics and flame propagation reasonably well. Diagnosing techniques published in the literature are used to determine whether the flame fronts are spontaneously propagating or not. As reported previously for other fuel blends under RCCI conditions, both deflagration and spontaneous ignition flame fronts are observed to co-exist. Gaussian, bi-modal, and log-normal fields respectively move towards a spontaneously igniting mode. Correlating temperature and high reactivity fuel fields not only makes combustion more spontaneously igniting but also more premixed. The analysis reveals the sensitivity of the DNS results with respect to the initial conditions which accordingly should be chosen with care.

Split injection timing optimization in ammonia/biodiesel powered by RCCI engine

Employing carbon-neutral (NH3) and low carbon footprint (biodiesel) fuels in Reactivity Controlled Compression Ignition (RCCI) engine mode is one possible method for minimizing carbon emissions in diesel engines. In this study, a Compression Ignition (CI) engine was customized to run in RCCI mode, employing High Reactive Fuel (HRF) as biodiesel and Low Reactive Fuel (LRF) as ammonia (NH3). Based on our earlier findings, the proportion of ammonia in premixing is fixed at 40 %. In the first phase, the primary injection timing of the algal biodiesel varied between 12 and 21°CA bTDC at a preset pre-injection timing of 46°CA bTDC. In the next phase, the pre-injection time varied between 46 and 54°CA bTDC, with the optimal main injection time being 18°CA. The result suggested that the optimal main and pre-injection at 18 and 58°CA bTDC increased the Cylinder Pressure (CP) by 30.1 %, and peak HRR and combustion phase angle were advanced. Brake Thermal Efficiency exhibited an 11 % enhancement, with Brake Specific Energy Consumption decreasing by 24.1 %. Nitrogen Oxide levels saw an increase of around 39.5 %. In contrast, reductions of 19.2 %, 23.5 %, 39.7 %, and 21.7 % were observed in Hydrocarbons, Carbon Monoxide, smoke emissions, and Exhaust Gas Temperature, respectively, compared to the single injection under full load conditions.

Optimization on manifold injection in DI diesel engine fuelled with acetylene

Researchers demonstrated that implementing new combustion technology and optimising fuel quantity results in a significant reduction in traditional fossil fuel usage and emission levels. The Reactivity Controlled Compression Ignition (RCCI) combustion strategy is one of the low temperature combustion technologies, and it is used to reduce the overall combustion temperature while also providing better combustion control. This study looks into RCCI combustion technology, which uses conventional diesel fuel as the high reactivity fuel (HRF) injected through the injector and acetylene gas as the low reactivity fuel (LRF) injected into the cylinder via a modified inlet manifold alongside air. The modified engine setup was tested for performance, emissions, and combustion under various load conditions, as well as different mass flow rates of acetylene gas, a low reactivity fuel that is injected with air. The flow field of the low reactivity fuel at the inlet manifold is analysed using the Computational Fluid Dynamics principle, which is used to determine the best flow rate for improving combustion quality. According to the simulation results, the optimal acetylene flow rate is 3 Litres Per Minute (LPM), and experimentation shows that at 3 LPM acetylene injection, the brake thermal efficiency (BTE) improves by about 3.2%, and emissions such as carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbon (HC), smoke intensity, and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) are reduced by about 35%, 17%, 10%, and 21%, respectively.

The Effect of Combustion Phase According to the Premixed Ethanol Ratio Based on the Same Total Lower Heating Value on the Formation and Oxidation of Exhaust Emissions in a Reactivity-Controlled Compression Ignition Engine

A compression ignition engine generates power by using the auto-ignition characteristics of fuel injected into the cylinder. Although it has high fuel efficiency, it discharges a lot of exhaust emissions such as NOX and PM. Therefore, there is much ongoing research aiming to reduce the exhaust emissions by using the technologies applied in this regard, such as PCCI, HCCI, etc. However, these methods still discharge large exhaust emissions. The RCCI method, which combines the spark ignition method and compression ignition method, is attracting attention. So, in this work, the objective of this study is to numerically investigate the effect of combustion phase according to the premixed ethanol ratio based on the same total heating value in-cylinder by changing the initial air composition on the formation and oxidation of exhaust emissions in the RCCI engine. The heating value of the premixed ethanol ratio varied from 0% to 40% based on the same total lower heating value in-cylinder in steps of 10%. It was assumed that the ethanol introduced into the cylinder through the premixing chamber was evaporated, and the initial air composition in the cylinder was changed and set. It was revealed that when the premixed ratio based on the same total lower heating value was increased, the introduced fuel amount into the crevice volume with advancing the start of energizing timing was decreased, which increased the peak cylinder pressure. In addition, the ignition delay was also longer due to the low cylinder temperature by the evaporation latent heat of the ethanol, which reduced the compression loss, so the IMEP value was increased. The rich equivalence ratio had a narrow distribution in the cylinder, which caused a reduction in cylinder temperature, so the NO formation amount was reduced. The ISCO value increased the increase in premixed ethanol ratio based on the same total lower heating value in-cylinder because the flame propagation of ethanol by combustion of diesel did not work well, and the CO formed by combustion was slowly oxidized due to the cylinder’s low temperature as a result of the evaporation latent heat of ethanol. From these results, the optimal operating conditions for simultaneously reducing the exhaust emissions and improving the combustion performance were judged such that the start of energizing timing was BTDC 23 deg, and the premixed ethanol ratio based on the same total lower heating value in-cylinder was 40%.

An efficient data-driven approach for modeling and optimization of reactivity-controlled compression ignition engine fueled with polyoxymethylene dimethyl ethers and hydrogen

This paper presents an efficient data-driven approach for optimizing the utilization of PODEn and hydrogen in reactivity-controlled compression ignition (RCCI) engines. A novel high dimensional model representation (HDMR) technique is adopted to construct a highly accurate surrogate model for the RCCI engine based on the dataset generated by a detailed CFD model that has been calibrated against experimental data. The HDMR model is then coupled with Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm III (NSGA III), a multi-objective genetic algorithm, to search for the optimal operating conditions where the RCCI engine fueled by PODEn and H2 achieves the highest combustion performance. Results suggest that the constructed HDMR model is highly accurate, being able to predict the engine performance within milliseconds. The coupled HDMR-NSGA III approach successfully identifies the optimal engine operating condition, which significantly improves the combustion performance and reduces pollutant emissions compared with the base condition.

Uncertainty-aware output feedback model predictive combustion control of RCCI engines

Accurate model development is essential for effective model-based control of Reactivity Controlled Compression Ignition (RCCI) engines. However, due to the intricate nature of engine combustion process, achieving a precise model that can capture the complex dynamic behavior and ensure high control performance poses a significant challenge. In this paper, we propose an uncertainty-aware output feedback model predictive control approach for efficient combustion management in RCCI engines. In contrast to the previously developed approaches, this method adopts a data-driven approach within the linear parameter-varying (LPV) framework for model development. To address the model mismatch between the LPV model and the real system/data, Bayesian Neural Networks (BNNs) are employed which provide the probability distribution of the uncertainties. The BNNs enable the formation of a scenario tree, effectively characterizing the range of potential uncertainties in the system. Through the implementation of scenario-based model predictive control, our approach ensures high tracking performance for the RCCI engine in the presence of modeling uncertainties and measurement noise. Extensive simulations and experimental validations demonstrate the superiority of our uncertainty-aware model predictive control over traditional control strategies.