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The development of a four-stroke engine, spark ignition, with direct injection of fuel into the combustion chamber was an important initiative for the global automotive market. The thermodynamic potential of this type of engine and its significant improvement in fuel economy have meant this technology as focus of a large number of research projects, with the objective to understand, develop and improve the system of direct fuel injection. However, to meet new emission limits set by Euro 5 specification, it was necessary to reevaluate the geometry design of the injector, which resulted in the development of a new component with a larger number of holes and with a diameter reduction (multi-holes injector). This change in the project aims to ensure a better spray, optimizing air / fuel ratio and, consequently, a better process of combustion inside the combustion chamber, satisfying the emission limits established by the applicable norms.

Nowadays, many researches are being carried out to replace the diesel by alternative fuels. Biodiesel and ethanol are strong candidates for this purpose. However, the experimental study of the combustion of biofuels in engines is not an easy task. Due to the large differences between the properties of the new fuels and the conventional diesel, radical changes may be needed in current engines, developed specifically for the fossil fuel. So, the experimental study of ethanol compression ignition (CI) combustion is not simple to be obtained in conventional engines. Therefore, some experimental apparatus, such as a rapid compression machine (RCM), are useful to conduct this kind of study. This paper describes the RCM adaptations made in order to run CI combustion tests using Ethanol-Powered (ED95) and Diesel (S50) for different compression ratios and injection timing.