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Premixed Charge Compression Ignition (PCCI), a Low Temperature Combustion (LTC) strategy for diesel engines is of increasing interest due to its potential to simultaneously reduce soot and NOx emissions. However, the influence of mixture preparation on combustion phasing and heat release rate in LTC is not fully understood. In the present study, the influence of injection timing on mixture preparation, combustion and emissions in PCCI mode is investigated by experimental and computational methods. A sequential coupling approach of 3D CFD with a Stochastic Reactor Model (SRM) is used to simulate the PCCI engine. The SRM accounts for detailed chemical kinetics, convective heat transfer and turbulent micro-mixing. In this integrated approach, the temperature-equivalence ratio statistics obtained using KIVA 3V are mapped onto the stochastic particle ensemble used in the SRM.

The use of catalyzed diesel particulate filter (CDPF) systems in light duty diesel (LDD) vehicles is becoming increasingly common. The primary functions of the system are to remove carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbons (HC) from the vehicle exhaust stream, while simultaneously reducing the level of particulate matter (PM) emissions to ambient background levels. These systems can comprise either a separate diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) and a downstream CDPF, or a single unit CDPF with the DOC functions incorporated within the CDPF. The single CDPF unit provides higher regeneration efficiency as it is located nearer to the engine and also cost benefits, as only a single unit is required compared to the alternative separate DOC and CDPF arrangement. A model describing the performance of the single unit CDPF for emissions control has been developed, with particular emphasis on achieving predictions of the CO and HC emissions over transient vehicle drive cycles.

Gasoline Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI) combustion has been studied widely in the past decade. However, in HCCI engines using negative valve overlap (NVO), there is still uncertainty as to whether the effect of pilot injection during NVO on the start of combustion is primarily due to heat release of the pilot fuel during NVO or whether it is due to pilot fuel reformation. This paper presents data taken on a 4-cylinder gasoline direct injection, spark ignition/HCCI engine with a dual cam system, capable of recompressing residual gas. Engine in-cylinder samples are extracted at various points during the engine cycle through a high-speed sampling system and directly analysed with a gas chromatograph and flame ionisation detector. Engine parameter sweeps are performed for different pilot injection timings and quantities at a medium load point.

A heavy-duty diesel engine (ETH-LAV single cylinder MTU396 heavy duty research engine) was simulated by RANS and advanced reacting flow models to gain insight into its soot and NOx emissions. Due to symmetry, a section of the engine containing a single injector-hole was simulated. Dodecane was used as a surrogate to emulate the evaporation properties of diesel and a 22-step reaction mechanism for n-heptane was used to describe combustion. The Conditional Moment Closure (CMC) method was used as the combustion model in two ways. In a more conventional modelling approach, CMC was fully interfaced with the CFD and a two-equation model was employed for determining soot while the extended Zeldovich mechanism was used for NOx. In a second approach called the Imperfectly Stirred Reactor (ISR) method, the CMC equation was integrated over space and the previous RANS-CMC solution was further analysed in a post-processing step with the focus on soot.

Gasoline direct injection (GDI) engines have become very attractive in transportation due to several benefits over preceding engine technologies. However, GDI engines are associated with higher levels of particulate matter (PM) emissions, which is a major concern for human health. The aim of this work is to broaden the understanding of the effect of hydrogen combustion and the influence of the three way catalytic converter (TWC) on PM emission characteristics. The presence of hydrogen in GDI engines has been reported to reduce fuel consumption and improve the combustion process, making it possible to induce higher rates of EGR. A prototype exhaust fuel reformer build for on-board vehicle hydrogen-rich gas (reformate) production has been integrated within the engine operation and studied in this work.

The underbody of a truck is responsible for an appreciable portion of the vehicle’s aerodynamic drag, and thus its fuel consumption. This paper investigates experimentally the flow around side-skirts, a common underbody aerodynamic device which is known to be effective at reducing vehicle drag. A full, 1/10 scale European truck model is used. The chassis of the model is designed to represent one that would be found on a typical trailer, and is fully reconfigurable. Testing is carried out in a water towing tank, which allows the correct establishment of the ground flow and rotating wheels. Optical access into the underbody is possible through the clear working section of the facility. Stereoscopic and planar Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) set-ups are used to provide both qualitative images of and quantitative information on the flow field.

The underbody of a truck is responsible for an appreciable portion of the vehicle’s aerodynamic drag, and thus its fuel consumption. A better understanding of the underbody aerodynamics could lead to designs that are more environmentally friendly. Unfortunately there are difficulties with correctly replicating the ground condition and rotating wheels when using the classical approach of a wind-tunnel for aerodynamic investigation. This in turn leads to computational modelling problems. A lack of experimental data for Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) validation means that the flow field in this area has seldom been investigated. There is thus very little information available for the optimisation and design of underbody aerodynamic devices. This paper investigates the use of a water-towing tank, which allows the establishment of the correct near-ground flow while permitting good optical access. Using a 1/10 scale model, Reynolds Numbers of around 0.7 million are achieved.

Large-bore natural gas engines may use pre-chamber ignition. Despite extensive research in engine environments, the exact nature of the jet, as it exits the pre-chamber orifice, is not thoroughly understood and this leads to uncertainty in the design of such systems. In this work, a specially-designed rig comprising a quartz pre-chamber fit with an orifice and a turbulent flowing mixture outside the pre-chamber was used to study the pre-chamber flame, the jet, and the subsequent premixed flame initiation mechanism by OH* and CH* chemiluminescence. Ethylene and methane were used. The experimental results are supplemented by LES and 0D modelling, providing insights into the mass flow rate evolution at the orifice and into the nature of the fluid there. Both LES and experiment suggest that for large orifice diameters, the flow that exits the orifice is composed of a column of hot products surrounded by an annulus of unburnt pre-chamber fluid.

The use of vanadia selective catalytic reduction (V-SCR) catalysts for NOX reduction from diesel engine exhaust is well known. These catalysts are also active for hydrocarbon (HC) and particulate matter (PM) oxidation. This dual functionality (oxidation and reduction) of V-SCR catalysts can help certain applications achieve the legislative limits with an improved margin. In this work, NOX reduction, HC and CO oxidation over V-SCR were studied independently and simultaneously in microreactor tests. The effect of various parameters (HC speciation, concentration, ANR, and NO₂/NOX ratio) was investigated and the data was used to develop a kinetic model. Oxidation of CO, C₃H₆, and n-C₁₀H₂₂ is first order in CO/HC, while C₇H₈ oxidation is less than first order in C₇H₈. All these reactions were zero order in O₂. Oxidation activity decreased in order: C₇H₈ ≻ n-C₁₀H₂₂ ≻ C₃H₆ ≻ CO. HC oxidation was inhibited by NH₃.

A one-dimensional model of a NOx trap system was developed to describe NOx storage during the lean operation, and NOx release and subsequent reduction during the rich regeneration process. The development of a NOx trap model potentially enables the optimisation of catalyst volume, precious metal loading, substrate type and regeneration strategy for these complex systems. To develop a fundamental description of catalytic activity, experiments were conducted to investigate the key processes involved in isolation (as far as possible), using a Pt/Rh/BaO/Al2O3 model catalyst. A description of the storage capacity as a function of temperature was determined using NOx breakthrough curves and the storage portion of more dynamic lean-rich cycling experiments. NOx breakthrough curves were also used for determination of rate of NOx storage. Kinetics for NOx reduction, as well as CO and HC oxidation, were determined using steady state reactor experiments.

Two approaches were adopted to study soot oxidation by NO₂; firstly microreactor tests were performed on soot produced by a soot generator over a range of NO₂ concentrations and temperatures. This enabled measurement to be made under well-controlled conditions. Secondly, soot oxidation measurements were made on an engine bench to obtain data under more realistic, if less controlled, conditions. In the microreactor work NO₂ consumption by soot oxidation and the selectivity of the soot oxidation to CO and CO₂ were measured. The latter was found to vary only slightly with temperature and to be independent of NO₂ concentration. By modeling this data using a 1-dimensional model, rate equations for the soot-NO₂ reaction were determined. These were then tested against the engine data. The soot used in this study was characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, N₂ physisorption and transmission electron microscopy.

Diesel fuel injection systems are operating at increasingly higher pressure (up to 250 MPa) with smaller clearances, making them more sensitive to diesel fuel contaminants. Most liquid particle counters have difficulty detecting particles <4 μm in diameter and are unable to distinguish between solid and semi-solid materials. The low conductivity of diesel fuel limits the use of the Coulter counter. This raises the need for a new method to characterize small (<4 μm) fuel contaminants. We propose and evaluate an aerosolization method for characterizing solid particulate matter in diesel fuel that can detect particles as small as 0.5 μm. The particle sizing and concentration performance of the method were calibrated and validated by the use of seed particles added to filtered diesel fuel. A size dependent correction method was developed to account for the preferential atomization and subsequent aerosol conditioning processes to obtain the liquid-borne particle concentration.

The European Emissions Stage 5b standard for diesel passenger cars regulates particulate matter to 0.0045 g/km and non-volatile part/km greater than 23 nm size to 6.0x10₁₁ as determined by the PMP procedure that uses a heated evaporation tube to remove semi-volatile material. Measurement artifacts associated with the evaporation tube technique prevents reliable extension of the method to a lower size range. Catalytic stripper (CS) technology removes possible sources of these artifacts by effectively removing all hydrocarbons and sulfuric acid in the gas phase in order to avoid any chemical reactions or re-nucleation that may cause measurement complications. The performance of a miniature CS was evaluated and experimental results showed solid particle penetration was 50% at 10.5 nm. The sulfate storage capacity integrated into the CS enabled it to chemically remove sulfuric acid vapor rather than rely on dilution to prevent nucleation.

Partially premixed compression ignition (PPCI) engines operating with a low temperature highly homogeneous charge have been demonstrated previously using conventional diesel fuel. The short ignition delay of conventional diesel fuel requires high fuel injection pressures to achieve adequate premixing along with high levels of EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) to achieve low NOx emissions. Low load operating regions are typified by substantial emissions of CO and HC and there exists an upper operating load limitation due to very high rates of in-cylinder gas pressure rise. In this study mixtures of gasoline and diesel fuel were investigated using a multi-cylinder light duty diesel engine. It was found that an increased proportion of gasoline fuel reduced smoke emissions at higher operating loads through an increase in charge premixing resulting from an increase in ignition delay and higher fuel volatility.

The hydrocarbon-SCR activity of a silver catalyst has been examined using actual exhaust gas from a diesel engine, without any fuel being added to the reactor inlet. This work is a further step in the development of an active lean-NOx catalyst for aftertreatment of exhaust streams that contain an excess of hydrocarbon relative to NOx. The engine tests follow on from laboratory studies, in which the activity was related to the composition and formulation of the catalyst, the concentration and speciation of the hydrocarbon reductants, and the composition and temperature of simulated exhaust gas. In all the tests described here, the exhaust gas has been provided by an engine operating on ultra-low sulphur diesel fuel. NOx-reduction has been measured as a function of engine load, engine speed, in-cylinder fuel injection timing, exhaust gas temperature, and exhaust gas recirculation. Over 60% conversion to N2 has been achieved at exhaust gas temperatures around 290°C.

Control of NOx and Particulate Matter (PM) emissions from diesel engines remains a significant challenge. One approach to reduce both emissions simultaneously without fuel economy penalty is the reformed exhaust gas recirculation (REGR) technique, where part of the fuel is catalytically reacted with hot engine exhaust gas to produce a hydrogen-rich combustible gas that is then fed to the engine. On the contrary to fuel cell technology where the reforming requirements are to produce a reformate with maximized H2 concentration and minimized (virtually zero) CO concentration, the key requirement of the application of the exhaust gas fuel reforming technique in engines is the efficient on-demand generation of a reformate with only a relatively low concentration of hydrogen (typically up to 20%).

Highly homogeneous compression ignition is difficult to achieve in a direct injection diesel engine. The difficulty of achieving adequate fuel vaporization and the problems of fuel spray wall impingement are the main factors. Limitation of the maximum operating load results from high rates of pressure rise that occur in this combustion regime. The levels of HC and CO emissions are raised substantially when compared with conventional combustion and remain a significant emission factor. In this study, two methods of achieving highly homogeneous combustion in a direct injection diesel engine were investigated, Nissan MK type and early injection. The effects of fuel injection pressure, injection timing, EGR level, EGR cooler efficiency and compression ratio were examined using a conventional 4 cylinder 2.0L common rail diesel engine with 18.4:1 and 14.4:1 compression ratios.

This paper presents two new methods to quantitatively evaluate the mechanical durability of multi-layered automotive paint systems. The first examines the resistance of the paint system to particle impacts and involves the impact of hard particles against the painted surface, under controlled conditions. The second test examines the resistance of the clearcoat layer in the paint system to surface abrasion, or mar. The test uses a steel sphere which is rotated against the paint surface in the presence of a slurry of fine abrasive particles. These two techniques have been successfully applied to a set of commercial automobile paints, and were found to discriminate well between them and give reproducible, quantitative data. The effects of the bake conditions on both the erosion and abrasion resistance of a full paint system and the abrasion resistance of a range of commercial clearcoats are examined in detail.

Particulate Matter (PM) emissions are of increasing importance, as diesel emissions legislation continues to tighten around the world. Diesel PM can be controlled using Diesel Particulate Filters (DPFs), which can effectively reduce the level of carbon (soot) emissions to ambient background levels. The Johnson Matthey Continuously Regenerating Trap (CRT®) [1], which will be referred to as the Continuously Regenerating DPF (CR-DPF) for the remainder of this paper, has been widely applied in Heavy Duty Diesel (HDD) applications, and has been proved to have outstanding field durability [2]. To widen the potential application of this system, addition of a platinum based catalyst to the DPF has been shown to lead to a higher PM removal rate under passive regeneration conditions, using the NOx contained in the exhaust gases.

A detailed chemical model was implemented in the KIVA-3V two dimensional CFD code to investigate the effects of the spray cone angle and injection timing on the PCCI combustion process and emissions in an optical research diesel engine. A detailed chemical model for Primary Reference Fuel (PRF) consisting of 157 species and 1552 reactions was used to simulate diesel fuel chemistry. The model validation shows good agreement between the predicted and measured pressure and emissions data in the selected cases with various spray angles and injection timings. If the injection is retarded to -50° ATDC, the spray impingement at the edge of the piston corner with 100° injection angle was shown to enhance the mixing of air and fuel. The minimum fuel loss and more widely distributed fuel vapor contribute to improving combustion efficiency and lowering uHC and CO emissions in the engine idle condition.