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The objectives of this study are to investigate the effects of premixed charge compression ignition (PCCI) strategies with split injection on soot emission characteristics. The split injection conditions included three injection intervals (1.1 ms, 1.3 ms, and 1.5 ms) and three injection quantity fraction ratios (Q1/Q2 = 10.0/14.6 mm3/st, 15.2/9.4 mm3/st, and 20.0/4.6 mm3/st). The results in real engine tests showed that shorter injection intervals, and the 1st injection quantity contributes to reduced soot emissions. A rig test with high-pressure and high-temperature constant-volume vessel (CVV) and a two-dimensional (2D) model piston cavity were used to determine correlations between injection conditions and soot emissions. During the rig test, fuel was injected into the CVV by a single-hole nozzle under split injection strategies. The injection strategies include the same injection intervals and quantity fraction ratios as in the real engine test.

In PCCI combustion with multiple injections, the mechanism having two heat release peaks which has a favorable characteristic of reducing noise is studied using numerical tool of single- and also multi-zone model of CHEMKIN PRO. In the present investigation, the physical issues, such as variations in the equivalent ratio and temperature caused by the fuel injection are simplified first so that the key issues of chemical reaction occurred in the combustion chamber can be extracted and are discussed in detail. The results show that the interval of two heat-release peaks can be controlled and as the number of zones of the calculation increases, the change in the timing of a heat release peak is increased but over three-zones, it is not affected any more. This indicates that to study about complex diesel combustion phenomena, three-to four-zone model shall give sufficiently accurate results.

A combustion method called Noise Canceling Spike (NC-Spike) Combustion [1, 2] has been reported in the co-author's previous paper, which reduces combustion noise in PCCI with split injection. This NC-Spike Combustion uses interference of the following “spike” of pressure rise on the preceding peak of pressure rise. The overall combustion noise is reduced by lowering the maximum frequency component of the noise spectrum. The period of this frequency is two times of the time interval between the two peaks of the pressure rise rate. This maximum load range of conventional PCCI combustion is limited by the combustion noise, since the maximum pressure rise rate increases as the amount of injected fuel increases. The NC-Spike Combustion has a potential to extend of the operating range of PCCI combustion.

An author's previous studies addressed a combustion system which reduces emissions, noise, and fuel consumption by using PCCI with the split injection of fuel. This concept relies on the premixed combustion of the first injected fuel and accelerated oxidation by the second injected fuel. Although this combustion system requires the optimization of the timing of the second injection, the details of how noise and emissions are reduced have not been elucidated. In this paper, the authors explain the mechanism whereby emissions and noise are reduced by the second injection. In-cylinder visualizations and numerical simulations both showed an increase in smoke and CO as the second injection timing was advanced, as induced by the inhibited oxidation of the rich flame. When the second injection timing is excessively retarded, the amount of soot forming around the near-nozzle increased.

A new concept, Diesel Staggered Premixed Ignition with Accelerated oxidation (D-SPIA) was developed for lower exhaust emissions and carbon dioxide (CO₂) and this is based on divided fuel injection before top dead center (TDC). D-SPIA is a result of investigating various diesel combustion methods. Although the D-SPIA is a type of Premixed Charge Compression Ignition (PCCI), it has a distinct feature of double premixed combustion by optimum injection quantities and staggered timing, which can achieve an ideal heat release rate for low pollutant emissions and fuel consumption. Based on this concept, second injection timing and the proportion of the second fuel injection quantity play significant roles to reduce smoke, and hydrocarbon (HC) and carbon monoxide (CO) emissions. The second injection timing has a close relation to the premixed time of the second fuel injection and smoke level.

EGR system is considered to be the most effective way of reducing the pollution, especially NOx, from diesel engine exhaust gas. However, EGR system is hampered by soot accumulation. In this study, a low-voltage soot removal device was installed at the air inlet in the EGR system. Measurements made with a Bosch smoke meter indicated that use of this device resulted in about a 50 - 84% reduction of soot, which would enable continuous use of EGR in diesel engines. The soot accumulated at the filter was easily removable and combustible into CO2.