Effects of stratification and charge cooling on combustion in a gasoline direct-injection compression ignition (GDCI) engine

Journal Article · 08 February 2022 · International Journal of Engine Research

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/14680874221077333 · OSTI ID:2217531

Ge, Haiwen  ^[1]; Zhao, Peng  ^[2]

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1. Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX (United States); University of Illinois at Chicago
2. University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tullahoma, TN (United States)

With the development of low temperature engine combustion strategies, performance of gasoline-type fuels under compression ignition conditions has attracted extensive research interest. Meanwhile, for the sake of co-optimization of engines and fuels for future ground transportation, identification and evaluation of general fuel properties should be a core research priority instead of endless testing of specific fuels. In this study, the roles of fuel octane sensitivity in characterizing the ignition performance of gasoline surrogates have been systematically investigated under typical gasoline direct ignition compression ignition (GDCI) engine conditions using 3D combustion CFD simulation, especially considering the subsequent in-cylinder charge stratification and charge cooling. Two different operating conditions, high boost pressure low boost temperature (beyond-RON) case and low boost pressure high boost temperature (beyond-MON) case, were considered. By comparing with our previous zero-dimensional chemical kinetic study of gasoline surrogates in advanced compression ignition (ACI) engines, the effects of stratification and charge cooling on the combustion processes are investigated. It is found that different fuel octane sensitivities lead to slight difference in equivalence ratio stratification and charge cooling due to differences in volatility. However, fuel reactivity is still the more dominant factor than the stratification and charge cooling effects in determining combustion phasing. The present results help to justify the P-T domain framework for engine autoignition analysis of overlapping pressure-temperature trajectory with ignition delay iso-contour. Here, the results also provide useful guidance to the understanding of GCI combustion process, and to the evaluation of controlling fuel properties and the selection of alternative fuels in GCI engines.

• Research Organization: University of Illinois at Chicago, IL (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Office of Sustainable Transportation. Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO); USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Office of Sustainable Transportation. Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO)
• Grant/Contract Number: EE0007985
• OSTI ID: 2217531
• Journal Information: International Journal of Engine Research, Journal Name: International Journal of Engine Research Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 24; ISSN 1468-0874
• Publisher: SAGECopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English