Nitric oxide detection inside the cylinder of an SI engine by direct UV absorption spectroscopy

The present work is a first step for the implementation and the development of a rapid and quantitative measurement technique using the UV broadband-lamp absorption spectroscopy. This technique is applied to detect nitric oxide molecules inside the combustion chamber of a methane-fueled spark-ignition engine. The ability of this technique to detect NO in very harsh thermodynamic conditions is proved under certain engine operating conditions. In spite of the broadband absorption, mainly due to the hot CO₂ and H₂O, clear NO absorption γ-bands are observed when the engine is skip-fired or when NO is added at the intake port. It was however, not possible to detect any nitric oxide absorption during the combustion time when each cycle was ignited and no nitric oxide was added. Finally, using the skip-ignition mode, the acquired NO absorption spectra allowed to conclude that evacuation of the in-cylinder residual gases can be complete at the end of the sixth cycle.