Title: A study of transient over-fuelling during heavy knock in an optical spark ignition engine

Authors: Hassan Vafamehr; Alasdair Cairns; Hazhir Ebne-Abbasi

Addresses: Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK ' Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK ' Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK

Abstract: The work was concerned with improving understanding of the effects of transient over-fuelling during heavy knocking combustion in modern spark ignition engines. Heavy knock was deliberately induced under moderate loads. Under normal operation, the engine was operated under port fuel injection. Multiple centred auto-ignition events were regularly observed, with knock intensities of up to ~30bar. Additional excess fuel was then introduced directly into the end-gas in short transient bursts. As the mass of excess fuel was progressively increased a trade-off was apparent, with knock intensity first increasing by up to 65% before lower unburned gas temperatures suppressed knock under extremely rich conditions. This trade-off is not usually observed during conventional low intensity knock suppression via over-fuelling and has been associated with the competing effects of reducing auto-ignition delay time and charge cooling/ratio of specific heats. Overall, the results demonstrate the risks in employing excess fuel to suppress knock deep within a heavy knocking combustion regime.

Keywords: optical; auto-ignition; developing detonation; downsizing; knock; super-knock.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPT.2018.090379

International Journal of Powertrains, 2018 Vol.7 No.1/2/3, pp.180 - 198

Received: 15 Jan 2017
Accepted: 27 Aug 2017

Published online: 13 Mar 2018 *

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