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Particulate matter (PM) emitted from compression ignition (CI) engines (diesel engines) has a detrimental effect on human health and the environment. The physical and chemical characteristics of PM emitted from CI-engines are influenced by engine operating conditions and fuel properties. The morphology, nanostructure, and chemical composition of PM affect its toxicity and interaction with the environment. From automotive industry perspective, these parameters influence the design of diesel particulate filters. This study presents a review of the physical and chemical characteristics of particulate emissions from the CI-engine. The present study commences with a brief description about the composition of PM emitted from CI-engine and the PM formation mechanism in CI-engine. Later on, the detailed review of PM's physical and chemical characteristics and the effect of engine operating parameters and alternative fuels on the particle number concentration, morphology, nano-structure, and oxidative reactivity of PM is presented. Online and offline methods of diesel particulate characterization and emerging chemical characterization techniques such as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) are also discussed briefly. Correlation between physical and chemical properties, and oxidative reactivity of PM is also discussed. It was found that engine operating parameters affect the physical and chemical properties of PM. Use of alternative fuels changes the diesel particulate morphology, nanostructure, and chemical composition which enhances the oxidative reactivity of PM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethanol fuelled homogenous charge compression ignition engine offers a better alternative to tackle the problems of achieving higher engine efficiency and lower emissions using renewable fuel. Present study computationally investigates the HCCI operating range of ethanol at different compression ratios by varying inlet air temperature and engine speed using stochastic reactor model. A newly developed reduced ethanol oxidation mechanism with NO x having 47 species and 272 reactions is used for simulation. HCCI operating range for compression ratios 17, 19 and 21 are investigated and found to be increasing with compression ratio. Simulations are conducted for engine speeds ranging from 1000 to 3000 rpm at different intake temperatures (range 365–465 K). Parametric study of combustion and emission characteristics is conducted and engine maps are developed at most efficient inlet temperatures. HCCI operating range is defined using combustion efficiency (>85%) and maximum pressure rise rate (<5 MPa/ms). In HCCI operating range, higher efficiency is found at higher engine loads and lower engine speeds. Emission characteristics of species (NO x , N 2 O, CO, CH 4 , C 2 H 4 , C 2 H 6 , CH 3 CHO, and HCHO) found in significant amount is also analysed for ethanol fulled HCCI engine. Emission maps for different species are presented and discussed for wide range of speed and load conditions. Some of unregulated species such as aldehydes are emitted in significantly higher quantities from ethanol fuelled HCCI engine at higher load and speed conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alcohols (ethanol and methanol) are being widely considered as alternative fuels for automotive applications. At the same time, homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) engine has attracted global attention due to its potential of providing high engine efficiency and ultralow exhaust emissions. Environmental legislation is becoming increasingly stringent, sharply focusing on particulate matter (PM) emissions. Recent emission norms consider limiting PM number concentrations in addition to PM mass. Therefore, present study is conducted to experimentally investigate the effects of engine operating parameters on the PM size-number distribution in a HCCI engine fueled with gasoline, ethanol, and methanol. The experiments were conducted on a modified four-cylinder diesel engine, with one cylinder modified to operate in HCCI mode. Port fuel injection was used for preparing homogeneous charge in the HCCI cylinder. Intake air preheating was used to enable auto-ignition of fuel-air mixture. Engine exhaust particle sizer (EEPS) was used for measuring size-number distribution of soot particles emitted by the HCCI engine cylinder under varying engine operating conditions. Experiments were conducted at 1200 and 2400 rpm by varying intake air temperature and air-fuel ratio for gasoline, ethanol, and methanol. In this paper, the effect of engine operating parameters on PM size-number distribution, count mean diameter (CMD), and total PM numbers is investigated. The experimental data show that the PM number emissions from gasoline, ethanol, and methanol in HCCI cannot be neglected and particle numbers increase for relatively richer mixtures and higher intake air temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biofuels are attracting global attention as alternate transportation fuels due to advantages of their being produced from locally available renewable resources, lower pollution potential, and biodegradable nature. Butanol is fast emerging as one of the competitive biofuels for use in transportation engines. Homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) engines have shown great potential for higher engine efficiency and ultralow NOx and particulate matter (PM) emissions. This experimental study is therefore carried out to combine the advantages of biofuels and HCCI engines, both. Detailed performance, combustion, and emission characteristics of n-butanol fueled HCCI engine are investigated experimentally. The study is conducted on a four cylinder diesel engine, whose one cylinder was modified to operate in HCCI combustion mode. Port fuel injection technique was used for homogeneous charge preparation in the intake manifold. Auto-ignition of fuel in the engine cylinder was achieved by intake air preheating. In-cylinder pressure-crank angle data acquisition with subsequent heat release analyses and exhaust emission measurements were done for combustion and emission characterization. In this paper, the effect of intake air temperature and air-fuel ratio on the combustion parameters, thermal and combustion efficiency, ringing intensity (RI), and emissions from n-butanol fueled HCCI engine were analyzed and discussed comprehensively. Empirical correlations were derived to fit the experimental data for various combustion parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) is an alternative combustion concept for in reciprocating engines. The HCCI combustion engine offers significant benefits in terms of its high efficiency and ultra low emissions. In this investigation, port injection technique is used for preparing homogeneous charge. The combustion and emission characteristics of a HCCI engine fuelled with ethanol were investigated on a modified two-cylinder, four-stroke engine. The experiment is conducted with varying intake air temperature (120–150°C) and at different air–fuel ratios, for which stable HCCI combustion is achieved. In-cylinder pressure, heat release analysis and exhaust emission measurements were employed for combustion diagnostics. In this study, effect of intake air temperature on combustion parameters, thermal efficiency, combustion efficiency and emissions in HCCI combustion engine is analyzed and discussed in detail. The experimental results indicate that the air–fuel ratio and intake air temperature have significant effect on the maximum in-cylinder pressure and its position, gas exchange efficiency, thermal efficiency, combustion efficiency, maximum rate of pressure rise and the heat release rate. Results show that for all stable operation points, NO x emissions are lower than 10ppm however HC and CO emissions are higher. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] Fuel injection pressure & timings affect engine performance, emissions and combustion. [•] Rapid combustion, higher cylinder pressure & ROHR at advanced injection timings. [•] Superior performance at lower FIP giving lower BSFC & emissions, & higher BTE. [•] Emission characteristics improve with advanced fuel injection timings. [•] Particulate number concentration in a CI engine increases with increasing engine load. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Particulate and NOx emissions from diesel engine are the biggest challenges faced in making diesel engines environmentally benign. Measures adopted for reducing gravimetric particulate emission to meet the prevailing emission regulations necessarily always do not reduce particulate number concentration, which has profound adverse health effects. Therefore it is important to investigate effect of fuel injection parameters, especially fuel injection pressure and start of injection timings on particulate size and number distribution in diesel exhaust. In the present study, a single cylinder research engine is used for experimental assessment of the effects of fuel injection strategies and start of fuel injection timing on particulate size–number, surface area, and volume concentration distributions by using engine exhaust particulate sizer (EEPS) spectrometer. Investigations have been conducted at three different fuel injection pressures (300, 500, 750bar) and four different start of injection timings. The experimental data indicates that the particulate size–number concentration increases with increasing engine load (BMEP) and it reduces with increasing fuel injection pressure. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]