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The operating range of Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI) engines is limited to low and medium loads by high heat release rates. Negative Valve Overlap (NVO) can be used to facilitate ignition of high octane number fuels and control pressure rise rates by diluting the mixture with hot residual gas and introducing some thermal stratification. Controlling the thermal stratification results in sequential autoignition, reduced heat release rates, and operating range extension. Therefore, fundamental understanding of thermal stratification in HCCI combustion with high levels of internal residuals is necessary, along with the development of appropriate models to simulate thermal stratification and its effects on HCCI combustion. A 3-D Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model of a 2.0 L GM Ecotec engine (LNF type) engine cylinder, modified for HCCI combustion, was developed using CONVERGE CFD.

A CFD investigation has been conducted to study the efficiency and emissions characteristics of Thermally Stratified Compression Ignition (TSCI) combustion with direct water injection. The motivation for using this new low temperature combustion mode is its ability to control the heat release process by introducing a forced and controlled thermal stratification beyond what would occur naturally. In this case, TSCI is enabled using direct water injection. The added degree of control over the combustion process allows for a significantly broader operable load range compared to HCCI. The effects of injection parameters including the pressure, start of injection (SOI) timing, and spray pattern have been shown previously to affect the heat release of TSCI and its induced thermal stratification. In the present work, the efficiency and emissions considerations were investigated in detail, and the effects of injected mass are presented.