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Experimental and numerical studies are conducted on the formation of soot and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), regarded as precursors of soot, during the combustion of fuel-rich homogeneous n-heptane mixtures. In-cylinder gases are sampled directly through a high-speed solenoid valve in engine tests, to be analyzed by GC/MS for qualifying PAHs. Smoke concentration is also measured. A numerical study is carried out by using a zero-dimensional model combined with detailed chemical kinetics. The experiments and computations show that PAHs can be predicted qualitatively by means of the present kinetic model.

A new type of fuel injection nozzle, called a “slit nozzle,” has been developed to improve poor ignitability and to stabilize combustion under low load conditions in direct-injection methanol diesel engines manufactured for medium-duty trucks. This nozzle has a single oblong vent like a slit. Engine test results indicate that the slit nozzle can improve combustion and thermal efficiency, especially at low loads and no load. This can be explained by the fact that the slit nozzle forms a more highly concentrated methanol spray around the glow-plug than do multi-hole nozzles. As a result, this nozzle improves flame propagation.

Pre-chamber spark ignition technology can stabilize combustion and improve thermal efficiency of lean burn natural gas engines. During compression stroke, a homogeneous lean mixture is introduced into pre-chamber, which separates spark plug electrodes from turbulent flow field. After the pre-chamber mixture is ignited, the burnt jet gas is discharged through multi-hole nozzles which promotes combustion of the lean mixture in the main chamber due to turbulence caused by high speed jet and multi-points ignition. However, details mechanism in the process has not been elucidated. To design the pre-chamber geometry and to achieve stable combustion under the lean condition for such engines, it is important to understand the fundamental aspects of the combustion process. In this study, a high-speed video camera with a 306 nm band-pass filer and an image intensifier is used to visualize OH* self-luminosity in rapid compression-expansion machine experiment.