Development and Validation of Hierarchical Models for the Design of Engine Control Strategies

The development of mathematical models for the design of controlstrategies for spark ignition automotive engines is described. The objectiveof the models, used for both simulation and optimization analysis, is theprediction of the effects of control strategies on fuel consumption andemissions of a vehicle over arbitrary driving cycles. In order to achievethe best compromise between precision, experimental costs, computationaltime and flexibility, a mixed modelling approach is used, withphenomenological and input-output models integrated within a hierarchicalsystem.Mean value models have been used to describe the most significant dynamiceffects: (i) air flow. (ii) two phases fuel flow in the intake manifold, and(iii) thermal flow in the cylinder walls. Stochastic effects due to sensorsand actuators can be also predicted.Two-zone and multizone thermodynamic models for the prediction ofpressure cycle sub-models for engine emissions (HC, CO, andNO _x and mechanical losses have been developed. Experimentaldesign techniques are also under development to optimize the interactionsbetween experimental analysis and models. Most of the models have beenintegrated in a computer code, used by a major automotive supplier.     

Understanding the effect of inhomogeneous fuel–air mixing on knocking characteristics of various ethanol reference fuels with RON 100 using rapid compression machine

We investigated the effect of inhomogeneous mixing of a fuel–air mixture in a spark-ignition engine on knocking characteristics and the dependency of the effect on the fuel, especially for various ethanol reference fuels with a fixed RON of 100. We assumed that a locally lean spot and rich spots exist in the end gas owing to inhomogeneous mixing and calculated their thermodynamic states with a multizone spark-ignition engine simulation. Subsequently, the ignition delay around the state was measured using a rapid compression machine at varying temperatures and equivalence ratios. The obtained results were processed to calculate ξ, which is the ratio of sound speed to auto-ignition propagation speed, and $?$, defined as the time required for acoustic front to exit the hot spot divided by the excitation time. Then, we analyzed the knocking occurrence and intensity from the locally lean spot and rich spots based on Zel'dovich and Bradley's ξ–$?$ theory. Our results show that the lean spot has a shorter ignition delay than the stoichiometric mixture (ξ?>?0) regardless of the ethanol content, whereas the rich spot does not (ξ?<?0), implying that only the lean spot can initiate knocking. This is because the temperature of the lean spot is higher than the surrounding mixture owing to its higher specific heat ratio and less charge cooling effect. In addition, the knocking intensity from the lean spot is found to be maximized with ERF0, showing the largest ${\xi }^{?2}$ value. Further analysis was conducted by dividing ξ into the effect of the temperature gradient, ξ_T, and that of the equivalence ratio gradient, ξ_?. Consequently, we found that the magnitude of ξ_T is related to the activation energy of the fuel, while that of ξ_? is determined by the dependency of the pre-heat release characteristics of the fuel on the equivalence ratio.     

DNS and LES of spark ignition with an automotive coil

The cycle to cycle combustion variability which is observed in spark-ignition engines is often caused by fluctuations of the early flame development. LES can be exploited for a better understanding and mastering of their origins. For that purpose appropriate models taking into account energy deposition, mixture ignition and transition to propagation are necessary requirements. This paper presents first DNS and LES of spark ignition with a real automotive coil and simplified pin-pin electrodes. The electrical circuit characteristics are provided by ISSIM while the energy deposition is modelled by Lagrangian particles. The ignition model is first evaluated in terms of initial spark radius on a pin-pin ignition experiment in pure air performed at CORIA and EM2C laboratories, showing that it pilots the radius of the torus formed by the initial shock wave. DNS of a quiescent lean propane/air mixture are then performed with this ignition system and a two-step mechanism. The impact of the modelled transferred energy during glow phase as well as the initial arc radius on the minimum ignition energy (MIE) are examined and compared to experimental values. Replacing the two-step chemistry by an analytically reduced mechanism leads to similar MIE but shows a different ignition kernel shape. Finally, LES of turbulent ignition using a Lagrangian arc model show a realistic prediction of the arc shape and its important role on the energy transfer location and thus on the flame kernel shape.     

DNS of spark ignition using Analytically Reduced Chemistry including plasma kinetics

In order to guarantee good re-ignition capacities in case of engine failure during flight, it is of prime interest for engine manufacturers to understand the physics of ignition from the spark discharge to the full burner lightning. During the ignition process, a spark plug delivers a very short and powerful electrical discharge to the mixture. A plasma is first created before a flame kernel propagates. The present work focuses on this still misunderstood first instants of ignition, i.e., from the sparking to the flame kernel formation. 3D Direct Numerical Simulations of propane-air ignition sequences induced by an electric discharge are performed on a simple anode-cathode set-up. An Analytically Reduced Chemistry (ARC) including 34 transported species and 586 irreversible reactions is used to describe the coupled combustion and plasma kinetics. The effect of plasma chemistry on the temperature field is found to be non-negligible up to a few microseconds after the spark due to endothermic dissociation and ionization reactions. However, its impact on the subsequent flame kernel development appears to be weak in the studied configuration. This tends to indicate that plasma chemistry does not play a key role in ignition and may be omitted in numerical simulations.     

Point-source spark shadowgraphy at the historic birthplace of supersonic transportation

About a decade after its foundation, the most advanced ballistics laboratory in Germany at the time, the Kruppsche Schiessplatz, was utilized by Ernst Mach in 1888. His intent was to validate his pioneering shock wave research using military shells as supersonic vehicles. The 125th anniversary of the Schiessplatz was celebrated in 2002. Along with Machs research, it served to initiate the field of supersonic transportation technology. The specific subject of this paper is the application of point-source spark shadowgraphy at the same laboratory in the 1970s to visualize gas flow over aeroballistic projectiles. However, different from Machs original interest, the new purpose of spark photography at that time in the ballistic ranges of the German Bundeswehr was to find technical solutions to aeroballistic problems when field-testing gave incomplete answers. Both a qualitative and a quantitative understanding of the principles of aeroballistics were sought in this research.Received: 3 February 2003, Accepted: 30 June 2003, Published online: 2 September 2003An abridged version of this paper was presented at the 13th American Physical Society Topical Conference on Shock Compression of Condensed Matter at Portland, Oregon, from July 20 to 25, 2003     

Micro-arc ignition on the oily surface of capacitively-coupled plasma

Micro-arc ignition on the oily surface is investigated in a capacitively-coupled plasma (CCP) system. In this system, micro-arc generation is enhanced by increased level of plasma potential, which is induced by a DC-grounded coil between blocking capacitor and the powered electrode. The images of micro-arcs are captured with very short exposure time of 20 μs using intensified charge-coupled device triggered by a high speed comparator and the focused ground electrode is partially soiled with oil. The micro-arcs are observed only on the oily surface of the electrode. This observation provides that the oily surface of CCP is very weak for micro-arc ignition and micro-arc ignition is supposed to be enhanced by the oil evaporation and the thin oil layer, considering the RF Paschen breakdown of the oil vapor within the sheath and the dielectric breakdown of thin oil layer.     

Comparison of two laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy techniques for total carbon measurement in soils

The potentials of two advanced laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) techniques which are used to determine the total carbon content in soils have been examined. The first one is the combination of a single-pulse laser ablation with spark excitation of plasma plume triggering the gap between electrodes close to the target surface. The second one is a more conventional double-pulse LIBS. In both modes the calibration graphs have a nonlinear trend in the actual range of carbon contents and present a good R² value (0.97). In the combined laser-spark approach, using low-cost and portable laser instrumentation is possible, as well as inducing a micro-damage on the target surface. Certain regularities in the spectral line intensities of soil nutritious elements have been detected and appear to be connected to the total carbon content and to the soil origin.     

Impulsive forces of two spark-generated cavity bubbles with phase differences

The characteristics of synchronous and phase difference bubble pairs in axisymmetric configuration near a boundary are investigated experimentally by the spark discharge method. Their destructive forces on nearby boundaries are measured using a polyvinylidene fluoride sensor. The bubble pair interactions and deformed features in the boundary vicinity are dissimilar to those in bulk water. Moreover, significant discrepancies between in-phase and out-of-phase pair interactions and their intensities of impulses are also witnessed. The interbubble distance (η), stand-off distance from the boundary (γ), and phase offset (τ) are crucial parameters affecting the shape evolutions and impulsive forces. From the qualitative analysis of sensor acquisition and high-speed imaging, it is observed that bubble periods are either prolonged or shorter than their corresponding isolated single cavity according to different parameters and arrangements. Additionally, the strongest impingements are produced by in-phase pairs. The impulses of phase difference bubble pairs are remarkably lower than in-phase pairs and even lower than a single bubble in some arrangements.     

大电流两电极气体开关研究

 由于引燃管难以满足现在能源系统对放电开关承受大电流的要求，因此研制了大电荷转移量两电极气体开关。这种新型气体开关电极间距可调，无触发极，采用同轴结构，并将主电极置于金属腔体内，减少了放电对绝缘支撑的污染。主电极为铜钨合金材料，设计为平顶圆柱状，以提高烧蚀均匀度和热传导效率，减少电极材料喷溅，延长其寿命。绝缘支撑采用碗状结构，提高了机械强度，增加了沿面击穿距离。该开关工作电压达25 kV，放电电流超过100 kA（脉冲宽度600 μs），单次脉冲电荷转移量达50 C。实验结果显示该气体开关触发性能稳定，电极表面烧蚀均匀，多次大电流实验后电极表面保持完好，可应用于强激光能源系统。     

平面火花隙三电极开关研制及性能测试

 研制了一种适用于平行板传输连接的平面火花隙三电极开关，开关正负电极为半圆形状，触发电极为细条状。将之替代立体式（半球形电极）火花隙三电极开关并应用于爆炸箔起爆装置中，装置回路参数将得以优化。实验测试了空气间隙为4.12， 3.14和2.2 mm的平面火花隙三电极开关的性能。结果表明，在开关间隙间距一定的情况下，随着电压的升高，开关间隙的放电时延和分散时间呈指数降低，开关电感小于15 nH；对于不同范围内的应用电压，使用不同间隙间距的开关，其分散时间不大于10 ns。该开关应用于较低充电电压（小于10 kV）的脉冲功率装置中，与立体式火花隙三电极开关相比，回路电感降低了约50 nH，放电周期缩短近1/3，峰值电流增加约1/3。