Investigation of the fuel injection angle/time on combustion, energy, and emissions of a heavy-duty dual-fuel diesel engine with reactivity control compression ignition mode

About one-third of the energy entering the cylinder of an internal combustion engine is converted into useful work while the rest of the energy is wasted in various ways. Therefore, providing solutions that can recover part of the engine's wasted energy is crucially important. One of the newest techniques of interest in the field of internal combustion engines is low temperature combustion (LTC) methods. The aim of this research is to approach the reactivity control compression ignition (RCCI) combustion phase by changing the effective parameters (time and angle of injection) of a dual-fuel heavy diesel engine (diesel/ methane (CH4)) To do this, numerical simulation (CONVERGE-CFD) and experimental test have been used. The results illustrate that by advancing the high reactive injection schedule (from-30 degrees to -50 degrees), the maximum cylinder temperature increases which occurs closer to the top dead center. This phenomena increases efficiency and output power, while consequently reduces Nitrogen oxides (NOx), Carbon monoxide (CO) and Hydrocarbon (HC) pollutants. For different fuel injection angles, the results show that at 62.5 degrees, the sprayed diesel fuel droplets are thoroughly mixed with the air inside the cylinder. Hence, the maximum amount of thermal energy released and the minimum amount of emissions occurs at angle of 62.5 degrees. (C) 2021 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Automated summary

The research approaches the reactivity control compression ignition (RCCI) combustion phase by changing the injection time and angle of a dual-fuel heavy diesel engine, leading to improved efficiency and reduced emissions.