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Combustion studies were completed using an International VT275-based, optical DI Diesel engine fueled with Diesel fuel, a Canola-derived FAMES biodiesel, as well as with a blend of the Canola-derived biodiesel and a cetane-reducing, oxygenated fuel, Di-Butyl Succinate. Three engine operating conditions were tested to examine the combustion of the fuels across a range of loads and combustion schemes. Pressure data and instantaneous images were recorded using a high-speed visible imaging, infrared imaging, and high-speed OH imaging techniques. The recorded images were post processed to analyze different metrics, such as projected areas of in-cylinder soot, OH, and combustion volumes. A substantially reduced in-cylinder area of soot formation is observed for the Canola-DBS blended fuel with a slight reduction from the pure FAMES biodiesel compared to pump Diesel fuel.

In direct-injection gasoline (GDI) engines with charge stratification, minimizing engine-out nitrogen oxide (NOx) emission is crucial since exhaust-gas aftertreatment tolerates only limited amounts of NOx. Reduced NOx production directly lowers the frequency of energy-inefficient catalyst regeneration cycles. In this paper we investigate NO formation in a realistic GDI engine. Quantitative in-cylinder measurements of NO concentrations are carried out via laser-induced fluorescence imaging with excitation of NO (A-X(0,2) band at 248 nm), and subsequent fluorescence detection at 220-240 nm. Engine modifications were kept to a minimum in order to provide results that are representative of practical operating conditions. Optical access via a sapphire ring enabled identical engine geometry as a production line engine. The engine is operated with commercial gasoline (“Super-Plus”, RON 98).