Factors influencing the burn rate characteristics of a spark ignition engine with variable valve timing

The charge burn characteristics of a four-cylinder port-fuel-injected spark ignition engine fitted with a dual independent variable-valve-timing system have been investigated experimentally. The influence of valve timings on the flame development angle and the rapid burn angle is primarily associated with valve overlap values and internal gas recirculation. Conditions examined cover light to medium loads and engine speeds up to 3500 r/min. As engine loads and speeds exceeded about 6 bar net indicated mean effective pressure and 3000 r/min respectively, combustion duration was virtually independent of the valve timing setting. At lower speeds and work output conditions, valve timing influenced burn angles through changes in dilution mass fraction, charge density, and charge temperature. Of these, changes in dilution mass fraction had the greatest influence. Increasing the dilution by increasing the valve overlap produced an increase in both burn angles. The effects of mean piston speed and spark timing have also been examined, and empirical expressions for the flame development and the rapid burn angles are presented.