Experimental studies on combustion and emissions of RCCI (reactivity controlled compression ignition) with gasoline/n-heptane and ethanol/n-heptane as fuels

Yong Qian, Xiaole Wang, Lifeng Zhu and Xingcai Lu

Energy, 2015, vol. 88, issue C, 584-594

Abstract: This paper presents an experimental study on the combustion and emissions characteristics of RCCI (reactivity controlled compression ignition) combustion in which in-cylinder direct injection of n-heptane combined with port injection of ethanol and gasoline, respectively, are used with a single-cylinder engine. Results show that, when the system is fueled with ethanol/n-heptane at a specific overall lower heating value per-cycle, the ignition delay of RCCI combustion increases greatly but the in-cylinder temperature and pressure drop severely for a larger premixed ratio. NOx and soot emissions are significantly improved for RCCI combustion under conditions of increased premixed ratio. At different premixed ratios, the HC (hydrocarbon) emission of gasoline/n-heptane is lower than that of ethanol/n-heptane, but the NOx and soot emissions are higher than those obtained with ethanol/n-heptane. When the premixed ratio is approximately 0.57, the indicated thermal efficiencies of both gasoline/n-heptane and ethanol/n-heptane reach their maximum values. When fueled with ethanol/n-heptane along with the increase in engine load, CO, NOx and soot emissions are lower than fueled with gasoline/n-heptane, but the HC emissions are higher. When IMEP (indicated mean effective pressure) is higher than 6 bar, the indicated thermal efficiency of ethanol/n-heptane is higher than that of gasoline/n-heptane. Ethanol is a good candidate to replace gasoline as port injected fuel in RCCI mode at heavy loads.

Keywords: Gasoline; Ethanol; n-heptane; RCCI (reactivity controlled compression ignition); Combustion; Emissions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (22)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:88:y:2015:i:c:p:584-594

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2015.05.083

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