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An investigation of the performance and emissions of a Fischer-Tropsch Coal-to-Liquid (CTL) Iso-Paraffinic Kerosene (IPK) was conducted using a CRDI compression ignition research engine with ULSD as a reference. Due to the low Derived Cetane Number (DCN), of IPK, an extended Ignition Delay (ID), and Combustion Delay (CD) were found for it, through experimentation in a Constant Volume Combustion Chamber (CVCC). Neat IPK was analyzed in a research engine at 4 bar Indicated Mean Effective Pressure (IMEP) at three injection timings: 15°, 20°, and 25° BTDC. Combustion phasing (CA50) was matched with ULSD at 10.8° and 16° BTDC. The IPK DCN was found to be 26, while the ULSD DCN was significantly higher at 47 in a PAC CID 510. In the engine, IPK’s DCN combined with its short physical ignition delay and long chemical ignition delay compared to ULSD, caused extended duration in Low Temperature Heat Release (LTHR) and cool flame formation.

An investigation into emissions differences and their correlations with differing combustion characteristics between F24 and Jet-A was conducted. Raw emissions data was taken from a single stage jet engine by a FTIR gas analyzer. Measurements of H2O, CO2, CO, NOx, and total hydrocarbon emissions (THC) were taken at 60K, 65K, and 70K RPM. At 70K RPM Jet-A and F-24 the emissions were similar at approx.: 4% H2O, 3% CO2, 970 PPM CO, 28 PPM NOx. Jet-A THC emissions were approx.: 1200 PPM THC, F24 THC emissions were lower by over 60%. The significantly lower amount of THC emissions for F24 suggests more complete combustion compared to Jet-A.

The Coal-To-Liquid (CTL) synthetic aviation fuel, Iso-Paraffinic Kerosene (IPK), was studied for ignition delay, combustion delay, pressure trace, pressure rise rate, apparent heat release rate in an experimental single cylinder indirect injection (IDI) compression ignition engine and a constant volume combustion chamber (CVCC). Autoignition characteristics for neat IPK, neat Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD), and a blend of 50%IPK and 50% ULSD were determined in the CVCC and the effects of the autoignition quality of each fuel were determined also in an IDI engine. ULSD was found to have a Derived Cetane Number (DCN) of 47 for the batch used in this experimentation. IPK was found to have a DCN of 25.9 indicating that is has a lower affinity for autoignition, and the blend fell between the two at 37.5. Additionally, it was found that the ignition delay for IPK in the CVCC was 5.3 ms and ULSD was 3.56 ms.

The aim of this study is to develop a pathway towards Hydrogen combustoin on an opposed-piston four stroke engine (OP4S) by using 1D simulation code from Gamma Technologies. By its configuration, the OP4S engine has significant thermal efficiency benefits versus conventional ICE. The benefit of the OP4S is reduced heat losses due to elimination of the cylinder head, which increase the brake thermal efficiency. A hydrogen-fueled (H2) opposed-piston four stroke (OP4S) engine was modeled using GTPower to determine the potential on performance, thermal efficiency and emissions targets. The 1D model was first validated on E10 gasoline using experimental data and was used to explore changes to fuel type in NG and H2, fueling location (TPI and DI), fuel mixture strength (stoichiometric and lean), for an optimized plenum volume and turbocharger selection.

This paper presents experimental investigations of determining and analyzing low-frequency, low-SNR (Signal to Noise Ratio) noise sources of an automobile by using a new technology known as Sound Viewer. Such a task is typically very difficult to do especially at low or even negative SNR. The underlying principles behind the Sound Viewer technology consists of a passive SODAR (Sonic Detection And Ranging) and HELS (Helmholtz Equation Least Squares) method. The former enables one to determine the precise locations of multiple sound sources in 3D space simultaneously over the entire frequency range consistent with a measurement microphone in non-ideal environment, where there are random background noise and unknown interfering signals. The latter enables one to reconstruct all acoustic quantities such as the acoustic pressure, acoustic intensity, time-averaged acoustic power, radiation patterns, etc.

With the mass movement toward electrification and renewable technologies, the scope of innovation of electrification has gone beyond the automotive industry into areas such as electric motorcycle applications. This paper provides a discussion of the methodology and complexities of converting an internal combustion motorcycle to an electric motorcycle. In developing this methodology, performance goals including, speed limits, range, weight, charge times, as well as riding styles will be examined and discussed. Based on the goals of this paper, parts capable of reaching the performance targets are selected accordingly. Documentation of the build process will be presented along with the constraints, pitfalls, and difficulties associated with the process of the project. The step-by-step process that is developed can be used as a guideline for future build and should be used as necessary.

Internal combustion engines are required to achieve production goals of better fuel economy, improved fuel economy and reduced emissions in order to meet the current and future stringent standards. To achieve these goals, it is essential to control the combustion process using an in-cylinder combustion sensor and a system that produces a feedback signal to the ECU. This paper presents a system based on combustion ionization that includes a newly developed smart spark plug capable of sensing the whole combustion process. A unique feature of the smart spark plug system is its ability to sense the early stages of combustion and produce a complete ion current signal that accurately identifies and can be used for the control of the start of combustion.

The Department of Defense (DOD) has adopted the use of JP-8 under the “single battlefield fuel” policy. Fuel properties of JP-8 which are different from ULSD include cetane number, density, heating value and compressibility (Bulk modulus). While JP8 has advantages compared to ULSD, related to storage, combustion and lower soot emissions, its use cause a drop in the peak power in some military diesel engines. The engines that has loss in power use the Hydraulically actuated Electronic Unit Injection (HEUI) fuel system. The paper explains in details the operation of HEUI including fuel delivery into the injector and its compression to the high injection pressure before its delivery in the combustion chamber. The effect of fuel compressibility on the volume of the fuel that is injected into the combustion chamber is explained in details.

Engine experiments have revealed the importance of fuel condensation on the emission characteristics of low temperature combustion. However, direct in-cylinder experimental evidence has not been reported in the literature. In this paper, the in-cylinder condensation processes observed in optically accessible engine experiments are first illustrated. The observed condensation processes are then simulated using state-of-the-art multidimensional engine CFD simulations with a phase transition model that incorporates a well-validated phase equilibrium numerical solver, in which a thermodynamically consistent phase equilibrium analysis is applied to determine when mixtures become unstable and a new phase is formed. The model utilizes fundamental thermodynamics principles to judge the occurrence of phase separation or combination by minimizing the system Gibbs free energy.

The present study helps to understand the local combustion characteristics of PREmixed Mixture Ignition in the End-gas Region (PREMIER) combustion mode while using increasing amount of natural gas as a diesel substitute in conventional CI engine. In order to reduce NOx emission and diesel fuel consumption micro-pilot diesel injection in premixed natural gas-air mixture is a promising technique. New strategy has been employed to simulate dual fuel combustion which uses well established combustion models. Main focus of the simulation is at detection of an end gas ignition, and creating an unified modeling approach for dual fuel combustion. In this study G-equation flame propagation model is used with detailed chemistry in order to detect end-gas ignition in overall low temperature combustion. This combustion simulation model is validated using comparison with experimental data for dual fuel engine.

Reactivity Controlled Compression Ignition (RCCI) is an approach to increase engine efficiency and lower engine-out emissions by using in-cylinder stratification of fuels with differing reactivity (i.e., autoignition characteristics) to control combustion phasing. Stratification can be altered by varying the injection timing of the high-reactivity fuel, causing transitions across multiple regimes of combustion. When injection is sufficiently early, combustion approaches a highly-premixed autoignition regime, and when it is sufficiently late it approaches more mixing-controlled, diesel-like conditions. Engine performance, emissions, and control authority over combustion phasing with injection timing are most favorable in between, within the RCCI regime.

Three jet fuel surrogates were compared against their target fuels in a compression ignited optical engine under a range of start-of-injection temperatures and densities. The jet fuel surrogates are representative of petroleum-based Jet-A POSF-4658, natural gas-derived S-8 POSF-4734 and coal-derived Sasol IPK POSF-5642, and were prepared from a palette of n-dodecane, n-decane, decalin, toluene, iso-octane and iso-cetane. Optical chemiluminescence and liquid penetration length measurements as well as cylinder pressure-based combustion analyses were applied to examine fuel behavior during the injection and combustion process. HCHO* emissions obtained from broadband UV imaging were used as a marker for low temperature reactivity, while 309 nm narrow band filtered imaging was applied to identify the occurrence of OH*, autoignition and high temperature reactivity.

SASOL IPK is a low cetane number synthetic fuel formed from coal by the Fischer-Tropsch process which can be used as an extender to JP8, currently used in military ground vehicles. This paper presents two surrogates developed considering the following criteria: (a) availability of kinetic combustion models for each component, (b) smallest number of components to reduce computation time and cost, (c) matching the following properties of target fuel DCN, distillation curve, density, LHV, MW and H/C ratio. The autoignition and combustion characteristics of the surrogates were validated in IQT according to ASTM D6890-10a. Surrogate formulation strategy involves an equation to calculate DCN of the surrogate mixture from the DCN of each component. The linear equation commonly used for such calculations was modified to include a multiplier, based on regression analysis, for each component to produces DCN values that agree well with the measured DCN in the IQT.

This paper investigates the performance of an indirect injection (IDI) diesel engine fueled with Bu25, 75% ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD#2) blended with 25% n-butanol by mass. N-butanol, derivable from biomass feedstock, was used given its availability as an alternative fuel that can supplement the existing limited fossil fuel supply. Combustion and emissions were investigated at 2000 rpm across loads of 4.3-7.2 bar indicated mean effective pressure (IMEP). Cylinder pressure was collected using Kistler piezoelectric transducers in the precombustion (PC) and main combustion (MC) chambers. Ignition delays ranged from 0.74 - 1.02 ms for both operated fuels. Even though n-butanol has a lower cetane number, the high swirl in the separate combustion chamber would help advance its premixed combustion. The heat release rate of Bu25 became initially 3 J/crank-angle-degree (CAD) higher than that of ULSD#2 as load increased to 7.2 bar IMEP.

This study investigates the use of a natural gas derived fuel, synthetic Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) paraffinic kerosene, in both it’s neat form and blended with ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD#2), in a naturally aspirated indirect injected engine. A blend of a mass ratio with 20% of the F-T fuel and 80% ULSD#2 was studied for its combustion characteristics, emissions, and efficiency compared to conventional ULSD#2 at a constant speed of 2400 RPM and operating at IMEP range from 4.5 to 6.5 bar. The F-T blend produced ignition delays 17% shorter than ULSD#2 resulting in slightly lower peak apparent heat release rates (AHRR) along with decreased peak combustion temperatures, by up to 50°C. Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) emissions of the F-T blend decreased by 4.0% at 4.5 bar IMEP and at negligible amounts at 6.5 bar IMEP. The F-T blend decreased soot significantly at 5.4 bar IMEP by 40%. Efficiencies of the F-T blend were similar to ULSD#2.

In order to advance the current research engine to operate in advanced combustion modes such as reactivity controlled compression ignition RCCI a diesel common rail fuel injection system for the experimental research engine has been designed and developed through testing the hydraulic, electrical and electronics, mechanical subcomponents, and the controls strategies. This study presents the process taken based on the verification and validation model of design and development for the fuel injection system incorporating hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing prior to engine operation and subsequent engine validation. Software verification was completed through signal converting circuits to confirm precise injection timing and to test the system in a mean effective model to incorporate a PI speed controller along with consistent rail pressure.

Cold starting problems of diesel engines are caused mainly by the failure of the auto-ignition process or the subsequent combustion of the rest of the charge. The problems include long cranking periods and combustion instability leading to an increase in fuel consumption in addition to the emission of undesirable unburned hydrocarbons which appear in the exhaust as white smoke. The major cause of these problems is the low temperature and pressure of the charge near the end of the compression stroke and/or the poor ignition quality of the fuel. This paper presents the results of an experimental investigation of cold starting of a high speed diesel engine with ULSD (Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel) and JP8 (Jet Propulsion) fuels at ambient temperature (25°C). A detailed analysis is made of the autoignition and combustion of the two fuels in the first few cycles in the cold start transient. In addition, a comparison is made between these processes for the two fuels during idle operation.

Numerical simulations of diesel reacting jets in a simulated engine environment were carried out to study the effect of oxygen concentration on the ignition delay time and lift-off length dynamics. A recently developed mechanism, direct integration of chemistry, and well established Lagrangian-Eulerian spray model were utilized for 3-D turbulent spray combustion simulation under engine like conditions. The simulations are able to provide a time-history of chemical species including formaldehyde CH2O intermediates and hydroxide OH radicals to facilitate development of auto-ignition and lift off length numerical diagnostics. A range of important operating points including variations in the oxygen concentration, rail pressure, and injection duration were examined. The purpose of conducting the parametric studies is to investigate the consistency of the results and provide a more comprehensive analysis than a single point condition.

In this study, the combustion and emissions characteristics of n-butanol/GTL and n-butanol/ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) blends are compared in a single-cylinder experimental diesel engine. The n-butanol was blended with a Fischer-Tropsch (FT) gas-to-liquid (GTL) fuel, at 25% and 50% mass. N-butanol was also blended with ULSD at the same mass ratios. FT fuels are an attractive alternative to petroleum based fuels because they can be used as a drop-in fuel with existing infrastructure. N-butanol is renewable fuel capable of being produced from waste biomass sources. The investigations were conducted at 1500 rpm and three loads of 2.75, 4.75, and 6.75 IMEP, representative for the research engine. 15% exhaust gas recirculation was utilized along with a supercharger to increase the intake pressure to 1.2 bar absolute. Neat ULSD and GTL, respectively, were investigated as a baseline.

The Cottonseed biodiesel combustion, sound and vibrations have been evaluated in a medium duty single cylinder DI engine (1.1L/cyl) by comparison with s ULSD#2 reference values. The engine was supercharged and had 20% EGR and all tests were conducted at 1400 rpm and at 4 bar BMEP load. Cylinder pressure was determined using a Kistler piezoelectric transducer. Combustion pressures peaked at 76 bar for both fuels. Ignition delay for CS100 decreased by 0.16 ms when compared to the ULSD#2 baseline. This would lead to a 23% lower peak heat release rate when operating CS100. The pressure rise rate for CS100 was 20% lower than ULSD#2, which related to the reduced ringing intensity for the biodiesel. The sound and vibrations were measured using a B&K condenser type multi-field microphone, and a tri-axial, piezoelectric accelerometer. All noise & vibration signals were analyzed with CPB and FFT Analysis, and Crank Angle Domain Analysis with B&K Pulse Platform software.