Numerical simulation of cyclic variability in reactivity-controlled compression ignition combustion with a focus on the initial temperature at intake valve closing

Cyclic variations in dual-fuel reactivity-controlled compression ignition combustion were investigated using multidimensional simulations of a light-duty diesel engine. By comparing results with measured pressure traces from 300 consecutive cycles, it was found that the standard deviation of the 50% burn point in reactivity-controlled compression ignition combustion could be satisfactorily reproduced by monitoring the sensitivity of the 50% burn point to changes in initial in-cylinder temperature at intake valve closing in the simulations. Using this approach, the influences of fuel reactivity, diesel mass fraction, combustion mode, exhaust gas recirculation rate, intake pressure, and injection strategy on combustion stability were investigated. It was found that diesel/methanol reactivity-controlled compression ignition combustion exhibits larger cyclic variations than diesel/gasoline at the same operating conditions due to the lower reactivity of methanol. Compared to gasoline homogeneous charge compression ignition and diesel partially premixed combustion, diesel/gasoline reactivity-controlled compression ignition combustion showed the lowest cyclic variations for a given 50% burn point. When the 50% burn point was kept constant by adjusting the intake temperature, the introduction of exhaust gas recirculation and an increase in intake pressure resulted in decreased cyclic variations. Under the conditions tested in this study, with the employment of retarded injection timing, single injection, and increased injection pressure, the in-cylinder equivalence ratio becomes richer, which is helpful for the reduction in cyclic variations in reactivity-controlled compression ignition combustion. The overall results indicate that the present approach for describing cyclic variability is useful for practical applications.