Experimental Research of Heavy-Duty Diesel Engine Performance and Emissions

Background: The industry trend of hybridization and recent popularity of sport utility vehicles demands a power source capable of producing harmless emissions and consuming little fuel. These two requirements can be satisfied best by a Diesel engine. Popular largely for it's high power output with little fuel consumption, Diesel engines have dominated the trucking and heavy vehicle industries. Recently, there has been growing interest in alternative fuels such as Biodiesel and synthetics (Fischer-Tropsch) due to their lower emissions.	Experimental Research of Heavy-Duty Diesel Engine Performance and Emissions, and with Alternative Fuels Abstract: This project's research focuses on the emissions produced from Diesel engines and aims to reduce harmful emissions through complex strategies of injection timing and exhaust gas recirculation. While the focus attempts to reduce harmful emissions, strict attention is paid to fuel consumption and maintaining the Diesel engine's reputation as a lean, efficient device. Additionally work is being undertaken to study the effect of Fuel Compostion and Alternative Fuels on the performance and emissions of the engine. Researchers: Dennis Assanis Zoran Filipi Sponsors: Automotive Research Center (U.S. Army TACOM) Detroit Diesel Corporation
What work is being done: The experimental work involves complete data acquisition, including a full scale gaseous emissions bench and a dilution system with particulate filtering capabilities. The test cell utilizes a full size production heavy-duty Diesel engine, offering researchers realistic engine capabilities as would be experienced by the driver of a truck. Complex instrumention, including in-cylinder pressure measurements, component strain measurements, temperature gradient measurements, and video visualization allow researchers to determine indicated quantities, friction, fuel heat release, fuel injection and injection pressure, cylinder head heat flux, and visual effects on combustion.
Goals of the work: Implement a capable, automatic system of directing exhaust gas into the intake manifold for the purpose of reducing certain harmful emissions. Implemental a capable, automatic system of diluting exhaust gas to a known ratio, and sampling for solid and volatile particulate matter. Develop a complete understanding of fuel injection timing effecting nitric oxides, particulate matter, and fuel consumption. Develop a complete understanding of boost pressure effecting nitric oxides, particulate matter, and fuel consumption. Develop a complete understanding of Exhaust Gas Recirculation effecting nitric oxides, particulate matter, and fuel consumption. Determine the accurate air / fuel ratio during exhaust gas recirculation flow, and the correlation between air / fuel ratio and the production of nitric oxides and particulate matter, and fuel consumption.
Achievements: AVL 513D Videoscope installed and commissioned for the purpose of visual investigation of fuel injection and combustion during engine operation. Click here to view captured and processed images. Visual validation of fuel start of injection confirmed previous determinations based on strain measurements of electronic unit injector's rocker arm.