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A phenomenological engine model has been developed to study direct injection of liquid fuels in diesel and gasoline engines. Sub-models were obtained from the literature wherever possible and include those for initial drop size, droplet vaporization, and spray penetration. The progress of the injected spray, including both liquid and vapor, is visualized relative to the combustion chamber bowl boundaries and gives valuable insight on where the spray tip intersects the piston bowl surface, and whether it is in a liquid or gaseous state. The one-dimensional spray penetration used in the model is oblivious to surfaces (thus no spray-wall interactions), air motion, turbulence, and mixing with air, but is properly influenced by gas temperature and density.

In the twenty-first century, exhaust emission control will remain a major technical challenge especially as additional pressures for fuel and energy conservation mount. To address these needs, a wide variety of engine and powertrain options must be considered. For many reasons, the piston engine will remain the predominant engine choice in the twenty-first century, especially for conventional and/or parallel hybrid drive trains. Emissions constraints favor the conventional port fuel-injected gasoline engine with 3-way exhaust catalyst, while energy conservation favors direct-injection gasoline and diesel engines. As a result of recent technological progress from a competitive European market, diesels, and most recently, direct-injection (DI) diesels now offer driveability and performance characteristics competitive with those of gasoline engines. In addition, DI diesels offer the highest fuel efficiency.

The effect of bore-to-stroke ratio (B/S) on indicated specific fuel consumption (ISFC) and emissions of a gasoline-fueled, spark-ignited, single-cylinder engine was studied while holding compression ratio and bore diameter constant. As B/S was increased from 1.1 to 3.3, both ISFC and hydrocarbon emissions increased significantly. Increased cylinder heat loss and, to a lesser extent, increased combustion duration were the principal causes of the ISFC increase. Increased surface-to-volume ratio was the principal cause of the increase in hydrocarbon emissions. The influence of combustion chamber modifications on these effects was investigated.