Technical Paper
Methanol Combustion in Low Compression Ratio D.I. Engines Enabled by Sonex Piston Design
2001-03-05
2001-01-1197
Using methanol as a fuel, this study examines the chemical-kinetics mechanism responsible for the enhancement of combustion in I.C. engines due to intermediate and radical chemical species produced in micro-chambers of Sonex Combustion System (SCS) pistons. This homogeneous combustion enhancement was first shown experimentally (in 1991) to be capable of enabling an IC engine to operate stably and smoke free on methanol over an entire engine map while using a compression ratio of only 17:1 and without a spark or other assists. The distinction is made between thermally induced variants of homogeneous combustion: HCCI and ATAC; and intermediate species/radical induced homogeneous combustion: LAG and SCRl (Stratified Charge Radical Ignition).