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A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "I2: Energy and Combustion Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (29 February 2024) | Viewed by 6750

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Enhua Wang

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Guest Editor

School of Mechanical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
Interests: diesel engines; internal combustion engines; engineering thermodynamics; waste heat recovery; combustion simulation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Baofeng Yao

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

School of Energy and Power Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
Interests: compression ignition; waste heat recovery; fuel spray

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Guest Editors are inviting submissions to a Special Issue of Energies on the subject area of “High-Efficiency and Low-Emission Internal Combustion Engine Technologies”. Efficiency improvement and emission-control techniques are important for the sustainable development of the internal combustion engine industry. There have been many emerging techniques for injection and combustion systems and aftertreatment systems in recent years. Moreover, new alternative fuels such as hydrogen and ammonia are also interesting topics for the future regarding near-zero-emission engines.

This Special Issue will deal with technology progress and novel ideas for the efficiency improvement and emission control of spark-ignition and compression-ignition internal combustion engines. The topics of interest for publication include, but are not limited to:

The Atkinson cycle;
New concepts in combustion;
Supercritical fuel spray;
Hydrogen fuel;
Ammonia combustion;
Nanocoating;
Electronic control;
Thermal management;
Emission control;
Waste heat recovery.

Dr. Enhua Wang
Dr. Baofeng Yao
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

internal combustion engine
spark ignition
compression ignition
jet flame
waste heat recovery
low friction coating
thermal management
emission control
hydrogen engine
fuel spray

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

25 pages, 4364 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enhanced Exhaust after-Treatment Warmup in a Heavy-Duty Diesel Engine System via Miller Cycle and Delayed Exhaust Valve Opening

by Hasan Ustun Basaran

Energies 2023, 16(12), 4542; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16124542 - 6 Jun 2023

Viewed by 1031

Abstract

The exhaust after-treatment (EAT) threshold temperature is a significant concern for highway vehicles to meet the strict emission norms. Particularly at cold engine start and low loads, EAT needs to be improved above 250 °C to reduce the tailpipe emission rates. Conventional strategies such as electrical heating, exhaust throttling, or late fuel injection mostly need a high fuel penalty for fast EAT warmup. The objective of this work is to demonstrate using a numerical model that a combination of the Miller cycle and delayed exhaust valve opening (DEVO) can improve the tradeoff between EAT warmup and fuel consumption penalty. A relatively low-load working condition (1200 RPM speed and 2.5 bar BMEP) is maintained in the diesel engine model. The Miller cycle via retarded intake valve closure (RIVC) is noticeably effective in increasing exhaust temperature (as high as 55 °C). However, it also dramatically reduces the exhaust flow rate (over 30%) and, thus, is ineffective for rapid EAT warmup. DEVO has the potential to enhance EAT warmup via increased exhaust temperature and increased exhaust flow rate. However, it considerably decreases the brake thermal efficiency (BTE)—by up to 5%—due to high pumping loss in the system. The RIVC + DEVO combined technique can elevate the exhaust temperature above 250 °C with improved fuel consumption—up to 10%—compared to DEVO alone as it requires a relatively lower rise in pumping loss. The combined method is also superior to RIVC alone. Unlike RIVC alone, the RIVC + DEVO combined mode does not need the extreme use of RIVC to increase engine-out temperature above 250 °C and, thus, provides relatively higher heat transfer rates (up to 103%) to the EAT system through a higher exhaust flow rate. The RIVC + DEVO combined method can be technically more difficult to implement compared to other methods. However, it has the potential to maintain accelerated EAT warmup with improved BTE and, thus, can keep emission rates at low levels during cold start and low loads. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue High-Efficiency and Low-Emission Internal Combustion Engine Technologies)

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28 pages, 5690 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Performance Investigation of Single–Piston Free Piston Expander–Linear Generator with Multi–Parameter Based on Simulation Model

by Zhuxian Liu, Zhong Wu, Yonghong Xu, Hongguang Zhang, Jian Zhang and Fubin Yang

Energies 2022, 15(23), 9078; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15239078 - 30 Nov 2022

Viewed by 1005

Abstract

The structural design and operating strategy of a free piston expander–linear generator (FPE–LG) has a major impact on performance. In this paper, the simulation model of single–piston FPE–LG was built and verified by combining the structural parameters of the existing test rig with a set of kinetic and thermodynamic equations. On this basis, the influence of the design and operating parameters of the device on the performance was studied, while keeping other parameters fixed. Then, a sensitivity analysis of power output and operating frequency was carried out. The results show that within a certain range of external load and intake beginning position, increasing the diameter of the intake and exhaust pipes, or reducing the piston rod diameter can improve the power output. Within a certain range of frictional coefficient and intake time, increasing the cylinder diameter and intake pressure, or reducing the piston assembly mass and back electromotive force (EMF) constant can increase the operating frequency. Both the power output and the operating frequency are most sensitive to the cylinder diameter among the design parameters. Among the operating parameters, power output is the most sensitive to intake pressure, and operating frequency is the most sensitive to intake beginning position. The optimization of structural design and operation strategy in expander provides important guiding significance for ORC waste heat recovery system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue High-Efficiency and Low-Emission Internal Combustion Engine Technologies)

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28 pages, 10772 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comprehensive Performance Assessment of Dual Loop Organic Rankine Cycle (DORC) for CNG Engine: Energy, Thermoeconomic and Environment

by Xu Ping, Baofeng Yao, Hongguang Zhang, Hongzhi Zhang, Jia Liang, Meng Yuan, Kai Niu and Yan Wang

Energies 2022, 15(21), 7832; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15217832 - 22 Oct 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1022

Abstract

The improvement of the overall utilization rate of compressed natural gas (CNG) engine fuel is the basis of efficient energy utilization. On the foundation of heat balance theory of internal combustion engines, this study fully considers the operation characteristics of CNG engines and systematically analyzes the distribution characteristics of different waste heat under variable working conditions. The nonlinear relationship between speed and intercooler heat source becomes evident with the increasing of intake mass flow rate. In accordance with the structural characteristics, the thermodynamic model, heat transfer model and environmental model of dual-loop organic Rankine cycle (DORC) are constructed. The system potential in full working environments is systematically evaluated. Compared with the speed, airmass flow has a significant effect on comprehensive performance of loop. The maximum power, heat transfer area and power output of per unit heat transfer area (POPA) of DORC are 36.42 kW, 23.34 m², and 1.75 kW/m², respectively. According to the operating characteristics of different loops, the variation laws of loop performance under the influence of multiple parameters are analyzed. The synergistic influence laws of multiple variables on system performance are also analyzed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue High-Efficiency and Low-Emission Internal Combustion Engine Technologies)

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19 pages, 3120 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Method and a Device for Testing the Friction Force in Precision Pairs of Injection Apparatus of the Self-Ignition Engines

by Jan Monieta

Energies 2022, 15(19), 6898; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15196898 - 21 Sep 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1403

Abstract

This article reviews the state of the knowledge and technology in the field of friction-loss measurements in internal combustion piston engines. The dependencies that describe the loss of energy in combustion engines and injection apparatus are presented. Currently, very little can be found in the literature on the study of frictional forces in injection apparatus, but mainly in the piston–cylinder group, so this work significantly fills that gap. The aim of this article is to construct a device and to develop a method for assessing the technical state of injector nozzles to minimize friction losses in internal combustion engines at the stages of evaluation, design, production and operation. This article presents a stand for determining the maximum friction forces due to gravity loading by water-jet control. This article also presents test results on the maximum friction force between a needle and a body of injector nozzles in piston combustion engines on a designed and purpose-built stand outside of the combustion engine. Various designs and injector nozzles are made from various types of alloy steel for marine and automotive piston internal combustion engines fueled with distillation or residual fuels, and are tested. The research concerned conventional elements for the injection apparatus as well as electronically controlled subsystems. Precision pairs of injection equipment are selected for the tests: new ones are employed after the storage period and operated in natural conditions. The elements dismantled from the internal combustion engines are tested in the presence of fuel or calibration oil of similar properties. The maximum static frictional forces under the hydrostatic loading are measured, alongside the parameters for the dynamic movement of the nozzle needles from bodies of the injector nozzle as time, speed, acceleration and dynamic force. The influence of the angular position of the needle in relation to the bodies of the precision pairs conventional internal combustion engines, the diametral clearance between the nozzle body and needle, and the surface conditions on the values of the maximum friction force are also presented. Errors in shape and position result in the uniqueness of the friction force at the mutual angular position of the needle in relation to the nozzle body, and the decrease in diametral clearance and deterioration of the surface state increase the friction losses. A model was elaborated of the influence of various factors on the value of the maximum friction force. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue High-Efficiency and Low-Emission Internal Combustion Engine Technologies)

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29 pages, 8170 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Development of Two-Step Exhaust Rebreathing for a Low-NOx Light-Duty Gasoline Compression Ignition Engine

by Praveen Kumar, Mark Sellnau, Ashish Shah, Christopher Whitney and Rafael Sari

Energies 2022, 15(18), 6565; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15186565 - 8 Sep 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1381

Abstract

The global automotive industry is undergoing a significant transition as battery electric vehicles enter the market and diesel sales decline. It is widely recognized that internal combustion engines (ICE) will be needed for transport for years to come; however, demands on ICE fuel efficiency, emissions, cost, and performance are extremely challenging. Gasoline compression ignition (GCI) is one approach for achieving the demanding efficiency and emissions targets. A key technology enabler for GCI is partially-premixed, compression ignition (PPCI) combustion, which involves two high-pressure, late fuel injections during the compression stroke. Both NOx and smoke emissions are greatly reduced relative to diesel, and this reduces the aftertreatment (AT) requirements significantly. For robust low-load and cold operation, a two-step valvetrain system is used for exhaust rebreathing (RB). Exhaust rebreathing involves the reinduction of hot exhaust gases into the cylinder during a second exhaust lift event during the intake stroke to help promote autoignition. The amount of exhaust rebreathing is controlled by exhaust backpressure, created by the vanes on the variable nozzle turbine (VNT) turbocharger. Because of the higher cycle temperatures during rebreathing, exhaust HC and CO may be significantly reduced, while combustion robustness and stability also improve. Importantly, exhaust rebreathing significantly increases exhaust temperatures in order to maintain active catalysis in the AT system for ultra-low tailpipe emissions. To achieve these benefits, it is important to optimize the rebreathe valve lift profile and develop an RB ON→OFF (mode switch) strategy that is easy to implement and control, without engine torque fluctuation. In this study, an engine model was developed using GT-Suite to conduct steady-state and transient engine simulations of the rebreathing process, followed by engine tests. The investigation was conducted in four parts. In part 1, various rebreathe lift profiles were simulated. The system performance was evaluated based on in-cylinder temperature, exhaust temperature, and pumping work. The results were compared with alternative variable valve actuation (VVA) strategies such as early exhaust valve closing (EEVC), negative valve overlap (NVO), positive valve overlap (PVO). In part 2, steady-state simulations were conducted to determine an appropriate engine load range for mode switching (exhaust rebreathing ON/OFF and vice-versa). The limits for both in-cylinder temperature and exhaust gas temperature, as well as the external exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) delivery potential were set as the criteria for load selection. In part 3, transient simulations were conducted to evaluate various mode switch strategies. For RB OFF, the cooled external EGR was utilized with the goal to maintain exhaust gas dilution during mode switches for low NOx emissions. The most promising mode-switch strategies produced negligible torque fluctuation during the mode switch. Finally, in part 4, engine tests were conducted, using the developed RB valve lift profile, at various low-load operating conditions. The mode switch experiments correlated well with the simulation results. The tests demonstrated the simplicity and robustness of the exhaust rebreathing approach. A robust engine response, low CNL, high exhaust gas temperature, and low engine out emissions were achieved in the low load region. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue High-Efficiency and Low-Emission Internal Combustion Engine Technologies)

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