Investigating the reactivity controlled compression ignition (RCCI) combustion strategy in a natural gas/diesel fueled engine with a pre-chamber

Particulate size distribution measurements are of importance in engine research as stricter regulations on particulate matter emissions (both mass and number based) are being implemented. Particulate size distribution measurements can be very sensitive to the laboratory environment or experimental setup, making it difficult to compare results for different combustion strategies acquired in different labs. In this study, a comparison of particulate size distribution measurements over a wide variety of conventional and advanced combustion strategies was conducted using a four-stroke single-cylinder diesel engine test setup to eliminate lab-to-lab variations and enable direct comparison of particulate size distribution results for different combustion strategies. Eight combustion strategies are included in the comparison: conventional diesel combustion, diesel/gasoline reactivity controlled compression ignition, homogeneous charge compression ignition, two types of gasoline compression ignition (early injection and late injection), diesel low temperature combustion, natural gas combustion with diesel pilot injection, and diesel/natural gas reactivity controlled compression ignition. Measurements were performed at four different load-speed points with matched combustion phasing when possible; for several strategies, it was necessary to operate with slightly different combustion phasing. Particle size distributions were measured using a scanning mobility particle sizer. To study the influence of volatile particles, measurements were performed with and without a volatile particle remover (thermodenuder) at low and high dilution ratios. The results show that non-uniformity in the fuel distribution caused by direct injection results in increased accumulation-mode particle concentrations compared to premixed strategies even for low particulate mass advanced combustion strategies. Premixed combustion strategies (homogeneous charge compression ignition) and early injection gasoline compression ignition show higher nuclei-mode particle concentrations. Overall particle number and mass concentrations vary significantly between engine operating conditions and between combustion strategies.

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Comparative Study on Effect of Hydrogen and Hydrogen Blended Compressed Natural Gas on Compression Ignition Engine Operated under Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition and Reactivity Controlled Compression Ignition Mode of Combustion

10.4271/2021-28-0010 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Sumit Watgave ◽

Nagaraj R Banapurmath ◽

Praveen Harari

Keyword(s):

Natural Gas ◽

Comparative Study ◽

Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition ◽

Compression Ignition ◽

Compression Ignition Engine ◽

Compressed Natural Gas ◽

Reactivity Controlled Compression Ignition ◽

Homogeneous Charge

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Natural Gas for High Load Dual-Fuel Reactivity Controlled Compression Ignition (RCCI) in Heavy-Duty Engines

Volume 1: Large Bore Engines; Fuels; Advanced Combustion; Emissions Control Systems ◽

10.1115/icef2014-5620 ◽

2014 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

N. Ryan Walker ◽

Martin L. Wissink ◽

Dan A. DelVescovo ◽

Rolf D. Reitz

Keyword(s):

Natural Gas ◽

Alternative Fuels ◽

Maximum Load ◽

Compression Ignition ◽

Heavy Duty ◽

Engine Operation ◽

Reactivity Controlled Compression Ignition ◽

Market Growth ◽

Load Limit ◽

Fuel Blending

Reactivity controlled compression ignition (RCCI) has been shown to be capable of providing improved engine efficiencies coupled with the benefit of low emissions via in-cylinder fuel blending. Much of the previous body of work has studied the use of gasoline as the premixed low-reactivity fuel. However, there is interest in exploring the use of alternative fuels in advanced combustion strategies. Due to the strong market growth of natural gas as a fuel in both mobile and stationary applications, a study on the use of methane for RCCI combustion was performed. Single cylinder heavy-duty engine experiments were undertaken to examine the operating range of the RCCI combustion strategy with methane/diesel fueling, and was compared against gasoline/diesel RCCI operation. The experimental results show a significant load extension of RCCI engine operation with methane/diesel fueling compared to gasoline/diesel fueling. For gasoline/diesel fueling, a maximum load of 6.9 bar IMEPg at CA50 = 0° aTDC and 7.0 bar IMEPg at CA50 = 4° aTDC was obtained without use of EGR. For methane/diesel fueling a maximum load of 15.4 bar IMEPg at CA50 = 0° aTDC and 17.3 bar IMEPg at CA50 = 4° aTDC was achieved, showing the effectiveness of the use of methane in extending the load limit for RCCI engine operation.

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Natural Gas for High Load Dual-Fuel Reactivity Controlled Compression Ignition in Heavy-Duty Engines

Journal of Energy Resources Technology ◽

10.1115/1.4030110 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 137 (4) ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

N. Ryan Walker ◽

Martin L. Wissink ◽

Dan A. DelVescovo ◽

Rolf D. Reitz

Keyword(s):

Natural Gas ◽

Alternative Fuels ◽

Maximum Load ◽

Compression Ignition ◽

Heavy Duty ◽

Engine Operation ◽

Reactivity Controlled Compression Ignition ◽

Market Growth ◽

Indicated Mean Effective Pressure ◽

Fuel Blending

Reactivity controlled compression ignition (RCCI) has been shown to be capable of providing improved engine efficiencies coupled with the benefit of low emissions via in-cylinder fuel blending. Much of the previous body of work has studied the use of gasoline as the premixed low-reactivity fuel. However, there is interest in exploring the use of alternative fuels in advanced combustion strategies. Due to the strong market growth of natural gas as a fuel in both mobile and stationary applications, a study on the use of methane for RCCI combustion was performed. Single cylinder heavy-duty engine experiments were undertaken to examine the operating range of the RCCI combustion strategy with methane/diesel fueling and were compared against gasoline/diesel RCCI operation. The experimental results show a significant load extension of RCCI engine operation with methane/diesel fueling compared to gasoline/diesel fueling. For gasoline/diesel fueling, a maximum load of 6.9 bar gross indicated mean effective pressure (IMEPg) at CA50 = 0 deg aTDC (after top dead center) and 7.0 bar IMEPg at CA50 = 4 deg aTDC was obtained without use of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR). For methane/diesel fueling, a maximum load of 15.4 bar IMEPg at CA50 = 0 deg aTDC and 17.3 bar IMEPg at CA50 = 4 deg aTDC was achieved, showing the effectiveness of the use of methane in extending the load limit for RCCI engine operation.

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A detail simulation of reactivity controlled compression ignition combustion strategy in a heavy-duty diesel engine run on natural gas/diesel fuel

International Journal of Engine Research ◽

10.1177/1468087417730486 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 19 (7) ◽

pp. 774-789 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Mojtaba Ebrahimi ◽

Mohammad Najafi ◽

Seyed Ali Jazayeri ◽

Ali Reza Mohammadzadeh

Keyword(s):

Diesel Engine ◽

Natural Gas ◽

Diesel Fuel ◽

Compression Ignition ◽

Heavy Duty ◽

Engine Operation ◽

Reactivity Controlled Compression Ignition ◽

Heavy Duty Diesel Engine ◽

Heavy Duty Diesel ◽

Compression Ignition Combustion

The aim of this study is to investigate in details the effects of a number of combustion parameters to optimize the reactivity controlled compression ignition operation running on natural gas and diesel fuel. In the present work, a single-cylinder heavy-duty diesel engine with a specially modified bathtub piston bowl profile for reactivity controlled compression ignition operation is studied and simulated through commercial software. A broad load range from 5.6 to 13.5 bar indicated mean effective pressure at a constant engine speed of 1300 r/min, fixed amount of diesel fuel mass, and with no exhaust gas recirculation is considered. The results from the developed model confirm that the model can accurately simulate the reactivity controlled compression ignition combustion. Also, by focusing on the time of formation of certain important radicals in combustion, the start of combustion and the time of natural gas dissociation are accurately predicted. Furthermore, the influence of some parameters such as different diesel fuel injection strategies, intake temperature, and intake pressure on the reactivity controlled compression ignition combustion is evaluated and the limitation of the engine operation at low temperature combustion is investigated.

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