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Utilizing a higher compression ratio in a Compression Ignition (CI) engine grants an obvious advantage of improved thermal efficiency. However, the resulting combustion temperatures promote dissociation ensuing in increased nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. Unfortunately, due to the inherent properties of CI combustion, it is difficult to achieve simultaneous reduction of NOx and particulate matter (PM) through conventional combustion methods. Taking a different route though accomplishing Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI) in CI engines will largely eliminate NOx and PM; however, combustion can result in a significant increase in hydrocarbon (HC) and carbon monoxide (CO) emissions due to the low volatility of diesel fuel. Hence, this work attempts another avenue of Low Temperature Combustion (LTC) by employing Pre-mixed Charge Compression Ignition (PCI) combustion on a comparatively higher compression ratio (21.2) single cylinder CI engine.

The recent increase in natural gas availability has made compressed natural gas (CNG) an option for fueling the transportation sector of the United States economy. In particular, CNG is advantageous in dual-fuel operation alongside ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD) for compression ignition (CI) engines. This work investigates the usage of natural gas mixtures at varying Energy Substitution Rates (ESRs) within a high compression ratio single-cylinder CI engine, including performance and heat release modeling of dual-fuel combustion. Results demonstrate the differing behavior of utilizing CNG at various substitution rates.

Diesel Particulate Filters (DPFs) have become a required aftertreatment device for Compression Ignition engine exhaust cleanup of Particulate Matter (PM). Moreover, with the increased prevalence of Spark Ignition Direct Injection (SIDI) systems, discussions are currently underway regarding the need of Gasoline Particulate Filters to handle the PM emanating from their combustion process. In this area, the two-channel DPF model has been widely successful in predicting the temperature, pressure drop, and species conversion in these devices. Because of the need to simulate compressible flow through the channels and a porous wall, these models have a difficult time achieving real-time predictive results suitable for an Engine Control Unit (ECU). As a result, this effort describes the creation of a lumped DPF model intended for an ECU. Model formulation was based on the standard governing equations, but simplified in order to remove as much computational overhead as possible.

A timing sweep to correlate the location of Maximum Brake Torque (MBT) was completed on a single-cylinder, direct injected compression ignition engine that was recently upgraded to a high-pressure rail injection system for better engine control. This sweep included emissions monitoring for carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, particulate matter, hydrocarbons, and oxides of nitrogen for the calibration of a heat release model, as well as the opportunity to relate MBT timing to brake-specific emissions production. The result of this timing sweep was a relatively linear correlation between injection delay and peak pressure timing. In addition, a number of other MBT timing methodologies were tested indicating their applicability for immediate feedback upon engine testing, particularly mass fraction burned correlations. Emissions were either strongly correlated to MBT timing (with emissions being minimized in the vicinity of MBT), or were completely independent of MBT.