Jet ignition is a promising technology for improving the thermal efficiency of internal combustion engines (ICEs). To achieve the highest possible thermal efficiency, the jet ignition strategy was studied on a gasoline engine. Firstly, a combustion process featuring three stages of heat release, based on uniformly distributed jet ignition, was proposed. Next, the geometric structure of an active jet igniter was optimized using numerical simulations. Using the designed jet igniter, the effects of engine operating conditions were explored, including auxiliary fuel injection in the jet igniter, gross excess air ratio, and engine load and speed, with the goal of maximizing thermal efficiency. A highest indicated thermal efficiency of 50.3% was achieved, verifying the effectiveness of the proposed combustion strategy with uniformly distributed jet ignition. This study provides a technical reference for developing high-efficiency gasoline engines using jet ignition.
LeachFKalghatgiGStoneRMilesP. The scope for improving the efficiency and environmental impact of internal combustion engines. Transp Eng2020; 1: 100005.
2.
IkeyaKTakazawaMYamadaTParkSTagishiR. Thermal efficiency enhancement of a gasoline engine. SAE Int J Engines2015; 8(4): 1579–1586.
3.
ItabashiSMuraseETanakaH, et al. New combustion and powertrain control technologies for fun-to-drive dynamic performance and better fuel economy. SAE technical paper 2017-01-0589, 2017.
4.
JunDLeeBSonJ, et al. Development of gasoline direct injection engine for improving brake thermal efficiency over 44%. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power2020; 142(10): 101005.
5.
LiuWQiYZhangRZhangQWangZ. Investigation on end-gas auto-ignition and knock characteristics of iso-octane over wide thermodynamic conditions under jet ignition using a rapid compression machine. Fuel2022; 313: 122665.
6.
MazaciogluAGrossMCKernJSickV. Infrared borescopic characterization of corona and conventional ignition for lean/dilute combustion in heavy-duty natural-gas engines. Proc Combust Inst2019; 37(4): 4993–5001.
7.
WangZHuangJWangQHouLZhangG. Experimental study of microwave resonance plasma ignition of methane–air mixture in a constant volume cylinder. Combust Flame2015; 162(6): 2561–2568.
8.
BiswasSQiaoL. Ignition of ultra-lean premixed hydrogen/air by an impinging hot jet. Appl Energy2018; 228: 954–964.
9.
BaoXSahuAJiangYBadawyTXuH. Flame kernel evolution and shock wave propagation with laser ignition in ethanol-air mixtures. Appl Energy2019; 233–234: 86–98.
10.
BiswasSTanvirSWangHQiaoL. On ignition mechanisms of premixed CH4/air and H2/air using a hot turbulent jet generated by pre-chamber combustion. Appl Therm Eng2016; 106: 925–937.
11.
TianJCuiZRenZ, et al. Experimental study on jet ignition and combustion processes of natural gas. Fuel2020; 262: 116467.
12.
LiFZhaoZWangZWangB. Experimental and numerical study of a methane-fueled pre-chamber system in rapid compression machine. Combust Sci Technol2021; 193: 1463–1494.
13.
AllisonPMde OliveiraMGiustiAMastorakosE. Pre-chamber ignition mechanism: experiments and simulations on turbulent jet flame structure. Fuel2018; 230: 274–281.
14.
GholamisheeriMThelenBCGentzGRWichmanISToulsonE. Rapid compression machine study of a premixed, variable inlet density and flow rate, confined turbulent jet. Combust Flame2016; 169: 321–332.
15.
ThelenBCToulsonE. A computational study on the effect of the orifice size on the performance of a turbulent jet ignition system. Proc IMechE, Part D: J Automobile Engineering2017; 231(4): 536–554.
16.
GholamisheeriMGivlerSToulsonE. Large eddy simulation of a homogeneously charged turbulent jet ignition system. Int J Engine Res2019; 20(2): 181–193.
17.
ToulsonESchockHAttardW. A review of pre-chamber initiated jet ignition combustion systems. SAE technical paper 2010-01-2263, 2010.
18.
AttardWPFraserNParsonsPToulsonE. A turbulent jet ignition pre-chamber combustion system for large fuel economy improvements in a modern vehicle powertrain. SAE Int J Engines2010; 3(2): 20–37.
19.
AttardWPParsonsP. A normally aspirated spark initiated combustion system capable of high load, high efficiency and near zero NOx emissions in a modern vehicle powertrain. SAE Int J Engines2010; 3(2): 269–287.
20.
PetersNKrishnaSBunceM, et al. Optimization of lambda across the engine map for the purpose of maximizing thermal efficiency of a jet ignition engine. SAE technical paper 2020-01-0278, 2020.
21.
CooperAHarringtonABassettM, et al. Application of the passive MAHLE jet ignition system and synergies with miller cycle and exhaust gas recirculation. SAE technical paper 2020-01-0283, 2020.
22.
SerranoDZaccardiJMüllerC, et al. Ultra-lean pre-chamber gasoline engine for future hybrid powertrains. SAE technical paper 2019-24-0104, 2019.
23.
SolticPHilfikerTHänggiS. Efficient light-duty engine using turbulent jet ignition of lean methane mixtures. Int J Engine Res2021; 22(4): 1301–1311.
24.
NoritakaKHirokiKNaohiroI. Study of gasoline pre-chamber combustion at lean operation. In: Ignition systems for gasoline engines: 4th international conference, Berlin, Germany, 2018.
25.
SensMGüntherMMedickeMWaltherU. Developing a spark-ignition engine with 45% efficiency. MTZ Worldw2020; 81(4): 46–51.
26.
ZhaoZWangZQiYCaiKLiF. Experimental study of combustion strategy for jet ignition on a natural gas engine. Int J Engine Res2022; 23(1): 104–119.
27.
LiFZhaoZWangBWangZ. Experimental study of pre-chamber jet ignition in a rapid compression machine and single-cylinder natural gas engine. Int J Engine Res2021; 22(4): 1342–1356.
28.
ZhouLDingYLiAQ, et al. Experimental study of gasoline engine with EGR dilution based on reactivity controlled turbulent jet ignition (RCTJI). Fuel2023; 331: 125744.
29.
HuaJZhouLGaoQ, et al. Influence of pre-chamber structure and injection parameters on engine performance and combustion characteristics in a turbulent jet ignition (TJI) engine. Fuel2021; 283: 119236.
30.
YuXZhangABaurA, et al. The impact of pre-chamber design on part load efficiency and emissions of a Miller cycle light duty gasoline engine. SAE technical paper 2021-01-0479, 2021.
31.
SilvaMSanalSHlaingP, et al. Effects of geometry on passive pre-chamber combustion characteristics. SAE technical paper 2020-01-0821, 2020.
32.
MoriyoshiYMorikawaKKuboyamaT, et al. Improvement in thermal efficiency of lean burn pre-chamber natural gas engine by optimization of combustion system. SAE technical paper 2017-01-0782, 2017.
33.
ZhaoZCaiKWangW, et al. Effects of octane number and sensitivity on combustion of jet ignition engine. SAE technical paper 2022-01-0435, 2022.
34.
LiuYDJiaMXieMZPangB. Development of a new skeletal chemical kinetic model of toluene reference fuel with application to gasoline surrogate fuels for computational fluid dynamics engine simulation. Energy Fuels2013; 27(8): 4899–4909.
35.
LiBLiYLiuH, et al. Combustion and emission characteristics of diesel engine fueled with biodiesel/PODE blends. Appl Energy2017; 206: 425–431.
36.
ColemanHSteeleW. Experimentation, validation, and uncertainty analysis for engineers. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, 2018.
37.
LiuCLiFSongHWangZ. Effects of H2/CO addition on knock tendency and lean limit in a natural gas SI engine. Fuel2018; 233: 582–591.
38.
WangBWangZShuaiSYangHWangJ. Combustion and emission characteristics of multiple premixed compression ignition (MPCI) fuelled with naphtha and gasoline in wide load range. Energy Convers Manag2014; 88: 79–87.
