Search Results

Reactivity Controlled Compression Ignition (RCCI) combines very high thermal efficiencies with ultra-low engine out NOx and PM emissions. Moreover, it enables the use of a wide range of fuels. As this pre-mixed combustion concept relies on controlled auto-ignition, closed-loop combustion control is essential to guarantee safe and stable operation under varying operating conditions. This work presents a coordinated air-fuel path controller for RCCI operation in a multi-cylinder heavy-duty engine. This is an essential step towards real-world application. Up to now, transient RCCI studies focused on individual cylinder control of the fuel path only. A systematic, model-based approach is followed to design a multivariable RCCI controller. Using the Frequency Response Function (FRF) method, linear models are identified for the air path and for the combustion process in the individual cylinders.

The operation of a dual fuel combustion engine using combustion mode-switching offers the benefit of higher thermal efficiency compared to single-mode operation. For various fuel combinations, the engine research community has shown that running dual fuel engines in Reactivity Controlled Compression Ignition (RCCI) mode, is a feasible way to further improve thermal efficiency compared to Conventional Dual Fuel (CDF) operation of the same engine. In RCCI combustion, also ultra-low engine-out NOx and soot emissions have been reported. Depending on available hardware, however, stable RCCI combustion is limited to a certain load range and operating conditions. Therefore, mode-switching is a promising way to implement RCCI in practice on short term. In this paper, a model-based development approach for a dual fuel mode-switching controller is presented. Simulation results demonstrate the potential of this controller for a heavy-duty engine running on natural gas and diesel.