An Experimental Investigation of the Auto-Ignition Properties of Two C5 Esters: Methyl Butanoate and Butyl Methanoate

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen M. Walton ◽  
Carlos Perez ◽  
Margaret S. Wooldridge
Keyword(s):  
Low Temperature ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Combustion Engine ◽  
Low Temperature Combustion ◽  
Moderate Pressure ◽  
Molecular Weights ◽  
Auto Ignition ◽  
Methyl Butanoate ◽  
Temperature Combustion ◽  
Time Histories

Ignition studies of two small esters were performed using a rapid compression facility (RCF). The esters (methyl butanoate and butyl methanoate) were chosen to have matching molecular weights, and C:H:O ratios, while varying the lengths of the constituent alkyl chains. The effect of functional group size on ignition delay time was investigated using pressure time-histories and high speed digital imaging. The mixtures studied covered a range of conditions relevant to oxygenated fuels and fuel additives, including bio-derived fuels. Low temperature and moderate pressure conditions were selected for study due to their relevance to advanced low temperature combustion strategies, and internal combustion engine conditions. The results are discussed in terms of the reaction pathways affecting the ignition properties.

Investigating Fuel Condensation Processes in Low Temperature Combustion Engines

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lu Qiu ◽  
Rolf D. Reitz
Keyword(s):  
Low Temperature ◽  
Combustion Engine ◽  
Phase Region ◽  
Low Temperature Combustion ◽  
Combustion Engines ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Temperature Combustion ◽  
Real Gas Effects ◽  
Unburned Hydrocarbons ◽  
Late Stages

Condensation of gaseous fuel is investigated in a low temperature combustion engine fueled with double direct-injected diesel and premixed gasoline at two load conditions. Possible condensation is examined by considering real gas effects with the Peng-Robinson equation of state and assuming thermodynamic equilibrium of the two fuels. The simulations show that three representative condensation events are observed. The first two condensations are found in the spray some time after the two direct injections, when the evaporative cooling reduces the local temperature until phase separation occurs. The third condensation event occurs during the late stages of the expansion stroke, during which the continuous expansion sends the local fluid into the two-phase region again. Condensation was not found to greatly affect global parameters, such as the average cylinder pressure and temperature mainly because, before the main combustion event, the condensed phase was converted back to the vapor phase due to compression and/or first stage heat release. However, condensed fuel is shown to affect the emission predictions, including engine-out particulate matter and unburned hydrocarbons.

scholarly journals A Novel Fuel Performance Index for Low-Temperature Combustion Engines Based on Operating Envelopes in Light-Duty Driving Cycle Simulations

2015 ◽  
Vol 137 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyle E. Niemeyer ◽  
Shane R. Daly ◽  
William J. Cannella ◽  
Christopher L. Hagen
Keyword(s):  
Low Temperature ◽  
Performance Index ◽  
Test Procedure ◽  
Driving Cycle ◽  
Low Temperature Combustion ◽  
Fuel Performance ◽  
Light Duty ◽  
Auto Ignition ◽  
Temperature Combustion ◽  
Light Duty Vehicle

Low-temperature combustion (LTC) engine concepts such as homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) offer the potential of improved efficiency and reduced emissions of nitrogen oxide (NOx) and particulates. However, engines can only successfully operate in HCCI mode for limited operating ranges that vary depending on the fuel composition. Unfortunately, traditional ratings such as octane number (ON) poorly predict the auto-ignition behavior of fuels in such engine modes, and metrics recently proposed for HCCI engines have areas of improvement when wide ranges of fuels are considered. In this study, a new index for ranking fuel suitability for LTC engines was defined, based on the fraction of potential fuel savings achieved in the federal test procedure (FTP-75) light-duty vehicle driving cycle. Driving cycle simulations were performed using a typical light-duty passenger vehicle, providing pairs of engine speed and load points. Separately, single-zone naturally aspirated HCCI engine simulations were performed for a variety of fuels in order to determine the operating envelopes for each. These results were combined to determine the varying improvement in fuel economy offered by fuels, forming the basis for a fuel performance index. Results showed that, in general, lower octane fuels performed better, resulting in higher LTC fuel index values; however, ON alone did not predict fuel performance.

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