A comparative study on partially premixed combustion (PPC) and reactivity controlled compression ignition (RCCI) in an optical engine

Partially premixed combustion (PPC) and reactivity controlled compression ignition (RCCI) are two new combustion modes in compression-ignition (CI) engines. However, the detailed in-cylinder ignition and flame development process in these two CI modes were not clearly understood. In the present study, firstly, the fuel stratification, ignition and flame development in PPC and RCCI were comparatively studied on a light-duty optical engine using multiple optical diagnostic techniques. The overall fuel reactivity (PRF number) and concentration (fuel-air equivalence ratio) were kept at 70 and 0.77 for both modes, respectively. Iso-octane and n-heptane were separately used in the port-injection (PI) and direct-injection (DI) for RCCI, while PRF70 fuel was introduced through direct-injection (DI) for PPC. The DI timing for both modes was fixed at –25°CA ATDC. Secondly, the combustion characteristics of PPC and RCCI with more premixed charge were explored by increasing the PI mass fraction for RCCI and using the split DI strategy for PPC. In the first part, results show that RCCI has shorter ignition delay than PPC due to the fuel reactivity stratification. The natural flame luminosity, formaldehyde and OH PLIF images prove that the flame front propagation in the early stage of PPC can be seen, while there is no distinct flame front propagation in RCCI. In the second part, the higher premixed ratio results in more auto-ignition sites and faster combustion rate for PPC. However, the higher premixed ratio reduces the combustion rate in RCCI mode and the flame front propagation can be clearly seen, the flame speed of which is similar to that in spark ignition engines but lower than that in PPC. It can be concluded that the ratio of flame front propagation and auto-ignition in RCCI and PPC can be modulated by the control over the fuel stratification degree through different fuel-injection strategies.     

Differences between PREMIER combustion in a natural gas spark-ignition engine and knocking with pressure oscillations

PREMIER (PREmixed Mixture Ignition in the End-gas Region) combustion occurs with auto-ignition in the end-gas region when the main combustion flame propagation is nearly finished. Auto-ignition is triggered by the increases in pressure and temperature induced by the main combustion flame. Similarly to engine knocking, heat is released in two stages when engines undergo this type of combustion. This pattern of heat release does not occur during normal combustion. However, engine knocking induces pressure oscillations that cause fatal damage to engines, whereas PREMIER combustion does not. The purpose of this study was to elucidate PREMIER combustion in natural gas spark-ignition engines, and differentiate the causes of knocking and PREMIER combustion. We applied combustion visualization and in-cylinder pressure analysis using a compression–expansion machine (CEM) to investigate the auto-ignition characteristics in the end-gas region of a natural gas spark-ignition engine. We occasionally observed knocking accompanied by pressure oscillations under the spark timings and initial gas conditions used to generate PREMIER combustion. No pressure oscillations were observed during normal and PREMIER combustion. Auto-ignition in the end-gas region was found to induce a secondary increase in pressure before the combustion flame reached the cylinder wall, during both knocking and PREMIER combustion. The auto-ignited flame area spread faster during knocking than during PREMIER combustion. This caused a sudden pressure difference and imbalance between the flame propagation region and the end-gas region, followed by a pressure oscillation.     

Monofractal and multifractal analysis of simulated heat release fluctuations in a spark ignition heat engine

We study data from cycle-by-cycle variations in heat release for a simulated spark-ignited engine. Our analyses are based on nonlinear scaling properties of heat release fluctuations obtained from a turbulent combustion model. We apply monofractal and multifractal methods to characterize the fluctuations for several fuel-air ratio values, ?, from lean mixtures to stoichiometric situations. The monofractal approach reveals that, for lean and stoichiometric conditions, the fluctuations are characterized by the presence of weak anticorrelations, whereas for intermediate mixtures we observe complex dynamics characterized by a crossover in the scaling exponents: for short scales, the variations display positive correlations while for large scales the fluctuations are close to white noise. Moreover, a broad multifractal spectrum is observed for intermediate fuel ratio values, while for low and high ? the fluctuations lead to a narrow spectrum. Finally, we explore the origin of correlations by using the surrogate data method to compare the findings of multifractality and scaling exponents between original simulated and randomized data.     

镁颗粒群着火和燃烧过程数值模拟

建立了一维非稳态球形镁颗粒群的着火燃烧模型, 数值模拟镁颗粒群的着火和燃烧过程, 研究表明, 颗粒群着火首先发生在颗粒群边界, 随后初始的燃烧火焰会分离为两个, 一个向颗粒群内部传播, 一个向外部传播, 最终内部火焰消失, 外部火焰维持并控制着整个颗粒群的燃烧; 内火焰向颗粒群内部传播过程中, 传播速度会逐渐加快, 且火焰温度值呈逐渐降低趋势. 分析了颗粒群内部参数和环境参数对镁颗粒群着火燃烧的影响. 随颗粒浓度的增大, 颗粒群着火时间略有增长, 但火焰传播速度更快, 燃烧稳定时火焰球尺寸也更大. 颗粒群初温越高, 则颗粒群着火时间越短, 火焰传播速度也会加快, 但燃烧稳定时火焰球尺寸基本不变. 环境温度对颗粒群着火燃烧的影响较复杂, 环境温度越高, 颗粒群着火时间越短, 但火焰传播速度却越慢, 燃烧稳定时火焰球尺寸变化很小. 颗粒粒径和辐射源温度对颗粒群着火燃烧的影响较显著, 颗粒粒径越小或辐射源温度越高, 则颗粒群着火时间越短, 火焰传播速度越快, 燃烧稳定时火焰球尺寸也越大. 数值模拟结果与文献中试验结果相一致. 关键词： 粉末燃料冲压发动机 镁着火燃烧 颗粒群     

Crank-angle resolved imaging of biacetyl laser-induced fluorescence in an optical internal combustion engine

The use of a frequency-tripled, diode-pumped Nd:YAG laser in combination with a CMOS camera lens-coupled to a three-stage image intensifier allowed the visualization of the fuel distribution with crank angle resolution for hundreds of consecutive engine cycles. Biacetyl, doped into iso-octane, was excited at rates of 12 kHz with 100 ns pulses. Pulse energies are high enough to allow single-pulse imaging of the vapor-phase fuel distribution for motored and fired operation in an optical engine. The repetition rate of the setup is adequate to resolve critical steps in the development of the fuel cloud around the spark plug of a direct-injection gasoline engine.PACS 42.62.Fi; 33.50.Dq; 82.33.Vx     

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.     

LES of supersonic combustion in a scramjet engine model

In this study, Large Eddy Simulation (LES) has been used to examine supersonic flow and combustion in a model scramjet combustor. The LES model is based on an unstructured finite volume discretization, using total variational diminishing flux reconstruction, of the filtered continuity, momentum, enthalpy, and passive/reactive scalar equations, used to describe the combustion process. The configuration used is similar to the laboratory scramjet at the Institute for Chemical Propulsion of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and consists of a one-sided divergent channel with a wedge-shaped flameholder at the base of which hydrogen is injected. Here, we investigate supersonic flow with hydrogen injection and supersonic flow with hydrogen injection and combustion. For the purpose of validation, the LES results are compared with experimental data for velocity and temperature at different cross-sections. In addition, qualitative comparisons are also made between predicted and measured shadowgraph images. The LES computations are capable of predicting both the non-reacting and reacting flowfields reasonably well—in particular we notice that the LES model identifies and differentiates between peculiarities of the flowfields found in the experiments.     

Measurements and modelling of oxy-fuel coal combustion

Oxy-fuel combustion is one of the most promising technologies to isolate efficiently and economically CO₂ emissions in coal combustion for the ready carbon sequestration. The high proportions of both H₂O and CO₂ in the furnace have complex impacts on flame characteristics (ignition, burnout, and heat transfer), pollutant emissions (NO_x, SO_x, and particulate matter), and operational concerns (ash deposition, fouling/slagging). In contrast to the existing literature, this review focuses on fundamental studies on both diagnostics and modelling aspects of bench- or lab-scale oxy-fuel combustion and, particularly, gives attention to the correlations among combustion characteristics, pollutant formation, and operational ash concerns. First, the influences of temperature and species concentrations (e.g., O₂, H₂O) on coal ignition, volatile combustion and char burning processes, for air- and oxy-firing, are comparatively evaluated and modelled, on the basis of data from optically-accessible set-ups including flat-flame burner, drop-tube furnace, and down-fired furnace. Then, the correlations of combustion-generated particulate/NO_x emissions with changes of combustion characteristics in both air and oxy-fuel firing modes are summarized. Additionally, ash deposition propensity, as well as its relation to the formation of fine particulates (i.e. PM_0.2, PM₁ and PM₁₀), for both modes are overviewed. Finally, future research topics are discussed. Fundamental oxy-fuel combustion research may provide an ideal alternative for validating CFD simulations toward industrial applications.     

LES/FGM investigation of ignition and flame structure in a gasoline partially premixed combustion engine

This paper presents a joint numerical and experimental study of the ignition process and flame structures in a gasoline partially premixed combustion (PPC) engine. The numerical simulation is based on a five-dimension Flamelet-Generated Manifold (5D-FGM) tabulation approach and large eddy simulation (LES). The spray and combustion process in an optical PPC engine fueled with a primary reference fuel (70% iso-octane, 30% n-heptane by volume) are investigated using the combustion model along with laser diagnostic experiments. Different combustion modes, as well as the dominant chemical species and elementary reactions involved in the PPC engines, are identified and visualized using Chemical Explosive Mode Analysis (CEMA). The results from the LES-FGM model agree well with the experiments regarding the onset of ignition, peak heat release rate and in-cylinder pressure. The LES-FGM model performs even better than a finite-rate chemistry model that integrates the full-set of chemical kinetic mechanism in the simulation, given that the FGM model is computationally more efficient. The results show that the ignition mode plays a dominant role in the entire combustion process. The diffusion flame mode is identified in a thin layer between the ultra fuel-lean unburned mixture and the hot burned gas region that contains combustion intermediates such as CO. The diffusion flame mode contributes to a maximum of 27% of the total heat release in the later stage of combustion, and it becomes vital for the oxidation of relatively fuel-lean mixtures.     

Investigation of toluene LIF at high pressure and high temperature in an optical engine

Toluene laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) emission spectra were acquired in an optical engine with excitation at 248 nm. Toluene was homogeneously seeded in pure nitrogen and air which were used as intake gases. Data were acquired during the compression phase without ignition leading to simultaneous increases in temperature and pressure from 20°C and 1 bar to 500°C and 23.6 bar. Compared to LIF emission spectra at high temperature and atmospheric pressure reported in the literature, the toluene-LIF emission signal shifts to longer wavelengths when temperature and pressure increase simultaneously, whereas the spectrally integrated emission intensity is slightly affected by the pressure level.     

Infrared borescopic characterization of corona and conventional ignition for lean/dilute combustion in heavy-duty natural-gas engines

Natural gas (NG) is attractive for heavy-duty (HD) engines for reasons of cost stability, emissions, and fuel security. NG requires forced ignition, but conventional gasoline-engine ignition systems are not optimized for NG and are challenged to ignite mixtures that are lean or diluted with exhaust-gas recirculation (EGR). NG ignition is particularly difficult in large-bore engines, where it is more challenging to complete combustion in the time available. High-speed infrared (IR) in-cylinder imaging and image-derived quantitative metrics were used to compare two ignition systems in terms of the early flame-kernel development and cycle-to-cycle variability (CCV) in a heavy-duty, natural-gas-fueled engine that had been modified to enable exhaust-gas recirculation and to provide optical access via borescopes. Imaging in the near IR and short-wavelength IR yielded strong signals from the water emission lines, which acted as a proxy for flame front and burned-gas regions while obviating image intensification (which can reduce spatial resolution). The ignition systems studied were a conventional system and a high-frequency corona system. The air/fuel mixtures investigated included stoichiometric without dilution and lean with EGR. The corona system produced five separate elongated, irregularly shaped, nonequilibrium-plasma streamers, leading to immediate formation of five spatially distinct wrinkled flame kernels around each streamer. Compared to the conventional spark ignition, which produces a single flame kernel that exhibits an initial laminar growth regime before wrinkling, corona ignition's early achievement of higher flame surface areas significantly shortened the ignition delay, resulting in reduced overall combustion duration and CCV for each mixture. Additionally, although the lean, dilute mixture produced higher CCV than the stoichiometric, minimally diluted mixture with both igniters, the mixtures ignited by the corona system suffered less than those ignited by the conventional system. Image-based measurements of CCV agreed with those based on in-cylinder pressure.     

Neural network prediction of cycle-to-cycle power variability in a spark-ignited internal combustion engine

Cycle-to-cycle variation (CCV) limits how lean a spark-ignited (SI) internal combustion engine (ICE) can stably operate at, restricts efficiency, and increases emissions through incomplete combustion. Therefore, a way to cleaner, more efficient SI ICEs is to minimize the CCV. Current methods to study CCV include experimental investigations and CFD-based numerical simulations. This study, in contrast, investigates the ability of neural networks to accurately model the indicated mean effective pressure (IMEP) and its coefficient of variation (COV of IMEP). Experimental data from a previous study of spark-ignited propane/air combustion in the TCC-III engine was used to train and evaluate a neural network. An optimized network was generated that utilizes 109 experimental inputs and is operated with 15 neurons in one hidden layer to determine IMEP for 18 engine operating conditions, with 625 individual consecutive engine cycles for each condition. The impact of training set size and the number of input parameters was also investigated. The average deviation for IMEP from the experimental measurements is 0.7–2.2% for the training data set and less than 12% for the entire predicted range of operating conditions. Data sets consisted of tests under rich, lean, and stoichiometric conditions without and with 9% nitrogen dilution. Predicted COV of IMEP strongly correlates with experimental data (R²?=?0.8453). However, a systematic over prediction of COV of IMEP for low COVs was observed while higher COVs were under-predicted by the neural network. The cause for this systematic behavior has not yet been identified but histograms of the predicted IMEP data indicate that this could be related to missing physical parameters that have a significant impact on combustion variability.     

Effect of feedstock water leaching on ignition and PM1.0 emission during biomass combustion in a flat-flame burner reactor

In this work, the effects of feedstock water leaching on ignition and PM_1.0 emission during biomass combustion were studied, for the first time, in a Hencken flat-flame burner reactor (HFFBR). A high-speed video camera and high-resolution electrical low-pressure impactor were respectively employed to diagnose ignition and PM_1.0 along the height of the burner. The mineral composition of PM₁₀₊ was measured as a function of height to demonstrate the potassium release during the early stage of biomass combustion. The results show that water leaching does not change the functional group of the biomass (straw), but increases the BET surface area and pore volume. Water leaching removes 90% of the potassium and all the chlorine, reducing the same amount of PM_1.0 emission. The effect of water leaching on ignition delay observed in the flat-flame burner reactor agrees with the delay of biomass-devolatilization in TGA. Profiles of mineral composition in the PM₁₀₊ with height shows that a large amount of the potassium is released before biomass ignition. This indicates that, at realistic heating rates, the catalytic promotion of water-soluble minerals on biomass ignition is primarily through promoting devolatilization. The ignition delay of biomass particles caused by water leaching is more significant at lower temperature, e.g., ignition is delayed from 20 to 24?ms at 1000?°C, and from 9.2 to 10.2?ms at 1300?°C.     

Numerical simulation and validation of SI-CAI hybrid combustion in a CAI/HCCI gasoline engine

SI-CAI hybrid combustion, also known as spark-assisted compression ignition (SACI), is a promising concept to extend the operating range of CAI (Controlled Auto-Ignition) and achieve the smooth transition between spark ignition (SI) and CAI in the gasoline engine. In this study, a SI-CAI hybrid combustion model (HCM) has been constructed on the basis of the 3-Zones Extended Coherent Flame Model (ECFM3Z). An ignition model is included to initiate the ECFM3Z calculation and induce the flame propagation. In order to precisely depict the subsequent auto-ignition process of the unburned fuel and air mixture independently after the initiation of flame propagation, the tabulated chemistry concept is adopted to describe the auto-ignition chemistry. The methodology for extracting tabulated parameters from the chemical kinetics calculations is developed so that both cool flame reactions and main auto-ignition combustion can be well captured under a wider range of thermodynamic conditions. The SI-CAI hybrid combustion model (HCM) is then applied in the three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (3-D CFD) engine simulation. The simulation results are compared with the experimental data obtained from a single cylinder VVA engine. The detailed analysis of the simulations demonstrates that the SI-CAI hybrid combustion process is characterised with the early flame propagation and subsequent multi-site auto-ignition around the main flame front, which is consistent with the optical results reported by other researchers. Besides, the systematic study of the in-cylinder condition reveals the influence mechanism of the early flame propagation on the subsequent auto-ignition.     

Investigation of corrosion processes in metallic samples by optical and electrochemical methods

A comparative investigation using simultaneously Michelson optical interferometry and cyclic electrochemical polarization tests to determine the evolution of corrosion processes taking place is presented. As optical monitoring of corrosion in an electrochemical system compound by metallic samples immersed in acid or brine-type aqueous solutions is performed, the consecutive appearance and disappearance of interference patterns formed by reflection from the sample surface as time goes by is observed. This behavior, as well as a brief mutual analysis and discussion of the obtained optical patterns recorded during electrochemical tests and corresponding potentiodynamic curves, is reported here.     

Improved dispersion tolerance of an optical duobinary transmitter based on a Mach-Zehnder modulator and an optical delay interferometer

We present a method for improving the dispersion tolerance of an optical duobinary transmitter based on a dual-arm Mach-Zehnder (MZ) modulator and an optical delay interferometer without electrical low-pass filters. Since such a duobinary modulator using a standard 1-bit delay cannot provide high dispersion tolerance, we investigated the impact of the modulator driving voltages and the bit delay in the interferometer to improve the transmitter’s dispersion tolerance.     

基于压电探测判定激光支持燃烧波和爆轰波的点燃阈值

为了获得激光支持燃烧波和爆轰波的点燃阈值,采用压电探测器检测波长为1 064 nm的Nd:YAG激光作用在铝靶表面所产生的应变和冲压。从实验结果观察到压电信号的变化分为3个阶段,分别为光热弹性应变阶段、等离子体增强耦合阶段和激光支持爆轰波对靶表面的压力阶段,并从理论上研究了这3个阶段的激光与靶材料相互作用的机理,从而可以从压电信号是否发生跃变判断出激光支持燃烧波和激光支持爆轰波的点燃阈值,与其它方法所得到结果基本吻合。     

Reducing and eliminating induced losses during UV-laser processing of photo-hypersensitised optical fibres

Photo-hypersensitisation of optical waveguides allows significant reduction of UV-induced attenuation during subsequent photolytic writing of gratings and other components. Within phosphosilicate fibres these losses can be eliminated across the entire near UV to near IR spectrum opening up the possibility of UV-written waveguide components at any wavelength.     

基于压电探测判定激光支持燃烧波和爆轰波的点燃阈值

为了获得激光支持燃烧波和爆轰波的点燃阈值,采用压电探测器检测波长为1 064nm的Nd:YAG激光作用在铝靶表面所产生的应变和冲压。从实验结果观察到压电信号的变化分为3个阶段,分别为光热弹性应变阶段、等离子体增强耦合阶段和激光支持爆轰波对靶表面的压力阶段,并从理论上研究了这3个阶段的激光与靶材料相互作用的机理,从而可以从压电信号是否发生跃变判断出激光支持燃烧波和激光支持爆轰波的点燃阈值,与其它方法所得到结果基本吻合。