Engineering topics

De Ojeda, William

Publications and source records attributed to De Ojeda, William.

3 records

DOE OSTI2024

Light Duty Engine Performance Characteristics with Dimethyl Ether and Propane

Here, this paper explores the performance characteristics of a compression ignition HYUNDAI 2.2L engine operating with Dimethyl Ether (DME). Test are carried out at three operating conditions that weigh heavily in the FTP75 certification cycle (1000rpm-12Nm, 1500rpm-50Nm, 2000rpm-100Nm). The engine features a high-pressure common rail fuel injection system designed to operate with liquified gases. The main component of the fuel system is a high-pressure pump that incorporates an electronic inlet metering valve commanded on a crank-angle base to control the rail pressure. The pump, which requires no pressure regulator, provides the flow needed to the injectors without flow returning to the inlet. This novel fueling system is leveraged in tests that are conducted to examine the impact of EGR, combustion phasing, injection pressure on efficiency and emissions. In addition, the impact of introducing 15% Propane by mass is examined. During the tests, the engine ECU is aided by an Engine Controller High Speed Oversight unit (ECHO) to provide combustion phasing control, improved cylinder-to-cylinder uniformity, and an effective optimization over the testing effort. The use of DME and Propane allowed for peak thermal efficiency of nearly 43%. These fuels enable significant carbon index (CI) reductions over the baseline Diesel fuel, with indications that 50% reduction in CO 2 over the Diesel engine are possible.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

DOE OSTI2024

Performance and Emissions of an SI Engine Fueled With DME-Propane Blends

Dimethyl Ether (DME) is an alternative fuel that can be produced renewably and has the potential for lower CO and NOx emissions than conventional petroleum-based fuels. Blending DME with another gaseous fuel such as propane, which has a lower knock tendency than gasoline, can allow this fuel to be leveraged on SI engines. In this study, the use of DME-propane blends on a spark ignition (SI) engine was studied via computer simulations in order to understand the impact on engine performance and emissions and to identify the knock limitations of using such fuel blends. A 2L Hyundai SI engine was modeled in GT Power and the model was validated by comparing it with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation results. Starting from pure propane, DME was added incrementally until knock was observed in the engine. Results indicate that it is feasible to run propane with DME percentages up to 35% before severe knock impacts were observed. The BTE was higher, but the BSFC also increased for DME-propane blends as compared to gasoline. Here, an increase in NOx emissions was detected along with a significant decrease in CO emissions. CO 2 emissions declined for propane as compared to gasoline but increased with the addition of DME.

alternative fuels↗

DOE OSTI2024

Evaluation of the Performance and Exhaust Emissions of a 4 Cylinder CI Engine Operating With Dimethyl Ether (DME) and Propane Blends

In response to stringent emissions regulations and the need for higher efficiency engines, the utilization of DME and propane fuel blends in compression ignition (CI) engines has gained interest in the automotive industry. In this study, a range of DME-propane blends are explored in a CI combustion strategy at high injection pressures. A GT-Power model of a 2.2 L Hyundai CI engine was developed to facilitate evaluation of the impacts of variations of DME and propane blends at a light and medium engine speed-torque-load operating condition; specifically at 1500 rpm, 50 Nm and 2.84 bar brake mean effective pressure (BMEP); and 2000 rpm, 150 Nm, 8.53 bar BMEP speed-torque-load combination. Here, the GT-Power model was validated using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations. The results indicate that high diesel-like efficiencies can be achieved with a 100% DME mass substitution and up to 50% propane-DME blends could be implemented without a significant penalty on engine performance indicators. Significant brake specific nitrogen oxides (BSNOx) reductions were also observed along with reductions in carbon dioxide (CO2) and soot when leveraging these fuel blends.

computational fluid dynamics↗