Improvement of premixed charge compression ignition-based combustion by two-stage injection

The objective of this study is to find strategies for extending the load range of premixed charge compression ignition-based combustion while improving thermal efficiency and reducing combustion noise and exhaust emission levels. Experiments were performed using a single-cylinder direct-injection diesel engine equipped with a common-rail injection system and a cooled EGR system. First, experiments were carried out with single-stage injection. The results indicated a notable improvement of NO, and smoke emissions by selecting lower EGR rates and later injection timings according to the increase in injection quantity. However, the problems of high pressure rise rates and levels of unburned species emissions developed. To solve these problems, two-stage injection was applied. These additional experiments started with injection and EGR conditions that were based on the results of the single-stage injection tests, and modifications were made to mitigate the increased emissions and decreased thermal efficiency. As a result, judicious selection of injection and EGR conditions for two-stage injection provided a drastic improvement in exhaust emissions with a sufficiently low pressure rise rate to be equivalent to pilot-diesel operation.