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At least 73 records · Page 4

Exploring the potential benefits of high-efficiency dual-fuel combustion on a heavy-duty multi-cylinder engine for SuperTruck I

In support of the Daimler SuperTruck I team’s 55% brake thermal efficiency (BTE) pathway goal, researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory performed an experimental investigation of the potential efficiency and emissions benefits of dual-fuel advanced combustion approaches on a modified heavy-duty 15-L Detroit™ DD15 engine. For this work, a natural gas port fuel injection system with an independent injection control for each cylinder was added to the DD15 engine. For the dual-fuel strategies investigated, 65%–90% of the total fuel energy was supplied through the added port fuel injection natural gas (NG) fueling system. The remaining fuel energy was supplied by one or more direct injections of diesel fuel using the production high pressure diesel fueling system. The production DD15 air handling system and combustion geometry were unmodified for this study. Efficiency and emissions with dual-fuel strategies including both low temperature combustion (LTC) and non-LTC approaches such as dual fuel direct-injection were investigated along with control authority over combustion phasing. Parametric studies of dual-fuel NG/diesel advanced combustion were conducted in order to experimentally investigate the potential of high-efficiency, dual-fuel combustion strategies to improve BTE in a multi-cylinder engine, understand the potential reductions in engine-out emissions, and characterize the range of combustion phasing controllability. Characterization of mode transitions from mixing-controlled diesel pilot ignition to kinetically controlled ignition is presented. Key findings from this study included a reproducible demonstration of BTE approaching 48% at up to a 13-bar brake mean effective pressure with significant reductions in engine-out NOx and soot emissions. Additional results from investigating load transients in dual-fuel mode and initial characterization of particle size distribution during dual-fuel operation are presented.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

Learning reference governor for cycle-to-cycle combustion control with misfire avoidance in spark-ignition engines at high exhaust gas recirculation–diluted conditions

Cycle-to-cycle feedback control is employed to achieve optimal combustion phasing while maintaining high levels of exhaust gas recirculation by adjusting the spark advance and the exhaust gas recirculation valve position. The control development is based on a control-oriented model that captures the effects of throttle position, exhaust gas recirculation valve position, and spark timing on the combustion phasing. Under the assumption that in-cylinder pressure information is available, an adaptive extended Kalman filter approach is used to estimate the exhaust gas recirculation rate into the intake manifold based on combustion phasing measurements. The estimation algorithm is adaptive since the cycle-to-cycle combustion variability (output covariance) is not known a priori and changes with operating conditions. A linear quadratic regulator controller is designed to maintain optimal combustion phasing while maximizing exhaust gas recirculation levels during load transients coming from throttle tip-in and tip-out commands from the driver. During throttle tip-outs, however, a combination of a high exhaust gas recirculation rate and an overly advanced spark, product of the dynamic response of the system, generates a sequence of misfire events. In this work, an explicit reference governor is used as an add-on scheme to the closed-loop system in order to avoid the violation of the misfire limit. The reference governor is enhanced with model-free learning which enables it to avoid misfires after a learning phase. Experimental results are reported which illustrate the potential of the proposed control strategy for achieving an optimal combustion process during highly diluted conditions for improving fuel efficiency.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Partitioning of Radionuclides in Various Streams of the Mo-99 Purification Process

The Universal Neutron Irradiator (UNI) was designed to irradiate a small volume of uranium solution and to achieve high fission power without creating a large radionuclide (RN) inventory. The UNI system is equipped with a fully enclosed off-gas system with online hydrogen gas monitoring to prevent the production of an explosive atmosphere, as well as storage cylinders for capturing fission gases. It also includes a catalytic recombiner in the target capsule (to immediately recombine radiolytic hydrogen and oxygen gas in the system) and access ports for sampling the target solution and capsule headspace. In UNI Phase I experiments, 50 mL of uranyl sulfate solution was irradiated at 0.3–0.5 W/mL fission power using a tantalum target assembly to produce photoneutrons via irradiation with an electron beam. The purposes of the Phase I experiments were to test the efficacy of adding 200 ppm Fe 2+ to the target solution to prevent uranyl peroxide precipitation under representative irradiation conditions, and to monitor iodine speciation in the irradiated uranyl sulfate solution. The focus of the UNI Phase II experiments was to use an irradiated uranyl sulfate solution containing a mixture of fission products and monitor their distribution in various streams during the primary recovery column (titania-based column) that separates Mo-99 from uranium. Irradiations were designed to create sufficient activity for tracking their distribution in various processing streams using a combination of gamma counting and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) analyses. Obtained data will be used to better understand the composition of waste streams, accumulation of RN on the titania column, and identify what RNs accumulate in the uranyl sulfate solution. Furthermore, this knowledge will allow us to determine waste classifications for various streams produced during the Mo-99 purification process and develop an appropriate waste clean-up strategy.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Development of a Physics-Based Combustion Model for Engine Knock Prediction

The objective of this project is to improve the prediction of engine knock by developing a new combustion modeling framework. Engine knock is a limiting factor to constrain the increase of fuel efficiency for spark ignition (SI) engines in most passenger cars. Efforts to increase fuel efficiency, increasing the compression ratio or downsizing, lead to the increase in the tendency of the knock occurrence. The knock is an undesired ignition of the end-gas, unburned fuel/air mixture ahead of the spark-ignited premixed flame, resulting in rapid in-cylinder pressure rises and engine damages. The combustion modeling framework developed in this project can consider turbulence-chemistry interactions during end-gas ignition, while using a reasonably detailed chemical mechanism developed for ignition and combustion reactions under engine relevant conditions, and the subtle characteristics of spark-ignited flame propagation. It is developed in the context of large eddy simulation (LES), which can capture stochastic in-cylinder processes. The developed model is incorporated into a commercial software for engine simulation, CONVERGE CFD, as a user defined function, and validated. Engine knock and knock-free experiments as well as direct numerical simulation (DNS) of end-gas ignition in homogeneous turbulence are performed to help model development and provide data sets for model validation. With further validation, the developed model is expected to advance the predictive capability for engine knock simulations and thus contribute to improving the fuel efficiency.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

Development of a Physics-Based Combustion Model for Engine Knock Prediction

The objective of this project is to improve the prediction of engine knock by developing a new combustion modeling framework. Engine knock is a limiting factor to constrain the increase of fuel efficiency for spark ignition (SI) engines in most passenger cars. Efforts to increase fuel efficiency, increasing the compression ratio or downsizing, lead to the increase in the tendency of the knock occurrence. The knock is an undesired ignition of the end-gas, unburned fuel/air mixture ahead of the spark-ignited premixed flame, resulting in rapid in-cylinder pressure rises and engine damages. The combustion modeling framework developed in this project can consider turbulence-chemistry interactions during end-gas ignition, while using a reasonably detailed chemical mechanism developed for ignition and combustion reactions under engine relevant conditions, and the subtle characteristics of spark-ignited flame propagation. It is developed in the context of large eddy simulation (LES), which can capture stochastic in-cylinder processes. The developed model is incorporated into a commercial software for engine simulation, CONVERGE CFD, as a user defined function, and validated. Engine knock and knock-free experiments as well as direct numerical simulation (DNS) of end-gas ignition in homogeneous turbulence are performed to help model development and provide data sets for model validation. With further validation, the developed model is expected to advance the predictive capability for engine knock simulations and thus contribute to improving the fuel efficiency.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

Magnetic Velocity Gauges: Effects of Misalignment

Embedded velocity gauges are standardly used at LANL on gas gun experiments of a shock to-detonation transition. The experiments are intended to be one-dimensional with a planar shock driven by the projectile from a gas gun propagating along the axis of the HE cylinder. As disussed by Gustavsen et al. [1999], the accuracy of the gauges depends on the alignment of the directions of shock propagation, magnetic field and the active gauge element. A source of inaccuracies is from tilt or misalignment angle at impact between the projectile surface and the HE surface; typically a few milliradians. This leads to the shock propagating at a slight angle to the axis of the HE cylinder and can affect the shock rise time of the velocity gauges, the time offset between the tracker gauges for the trajectory of the lead shock, and the gauge positions in the direction of propagation. It is important to note that tilt is characterized by 2 parameters; the magnitude of the angle relative to the HE axis and the direction in the plane transverse to the HE axis. Here we derive the uncertainties from tilt to leading order in the tilt angle.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Experimental Characterization of Hydrocarbons and Nitrogen Oxides Production in a Heavy-Duty Diesel–Natural Gas Reactivity-Controlled Compression Ignition Engine

Reactivity-Controlled Compression Ignition (RCCI) combustion is considered one of the most promising Low-Temperature Combustion (LTC) concepts aimed at reducing greenhouse gases for the transportation and power generation sectors. Due to the spontaneous combustion of a lean, nearly homogeneous mixture of air and low-reactivity fuel (LRF), ignited through the direct injection of a small quantity of high-reactivity fuel (HRF), RCCI (dual-fuel) shows higher efficiency and lower pollutants compared to conventional diesel combustion (CDC) if run at very advanced injection timing. Even though a HRF is used, the use of advanced injection timing leads to high ignition delays, compared to CDC, and generates high cycle-to-cycle variability, limited operating range, and high pressure rise rates at high loads. This work presents an experimental analysis performed on a heavy-duty single-cylinder compression ignited engine in dual-fuel diesel–natural gas mode. The objective of the present work is to investigate and highlight the correlations between combustion behavior and pollutant emissions, especially unburned hydrocarbons (HC) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx). Based on the analysis of crank-resolved pollutants measurements performed through fast FID and fast NOx systems under different engine operating conditions, two correlations were found demonstrating a good accordance between pollutant production and combustion behavior: Net Cyclic Hydrocarbon emission—cyclic IMEP variations (R 2 = 0.86), and Cyclic NOx—maximum value of the Rate of Heat Released (R 2 = 0.82).

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

Crankcase ventilation system with dead space alignment sleeves

A cylinder aligning sleeve and adapter plate for use within an internal combustion engine. The sleeve includes apertures placed contiguously with holes within the adapter plate to form a flow passage through the dead space between compression and crosshead pistons. The flow passage exits to a vent line where gas detection may occur along with safe venting of any gas detected. The sleeve serves to ensure concentric alignment of the compression cylinder with the engine block bore.

Alvarado, Caleb A.↗

An Experimental Comparison of Cyclic Variations in Diesel–Natural Gas and POMDME–Natural Gas Dual Fuel Combustion

Abstract Cyclic variations in internal combustion engines are caused by various factors, including combustion mixture stratification, in-cylinder flows, local fluctuations in air-fuel ratio, etc. Cyclic variations have a profound impact on engine performance and emissions. In this study, cyclic variations in dual fuel combustion are analyzed, comparing diesel–natural gas (NG) and polyoxymethylene dimethyl ether (POMDME)-NG dual fuel combustion. Cyclic variability was initially quantified using the coefficient of variation of gross indicated mean effective pressure (IMEPg) computed from experimental cylinder pressure data. The cases analyzed in this study had a coefficient of variation (COV) of IMEPg greater than or around 5%, which was the lower limit of onset of instability for this engine. Experiments were performed at two fixed start of injection (SOI) of high-cetane fuel: 310 CAD and 350 CAD. For all experiments, a constant load of 5 bar IMEPg was maintained, and the intake boost pressure and rail pressure were fixed at 1.5 bar and 500 bar, respectively. For each case, 1000 cycles of cylinder pressure data were recorded, filtered, and processed using an in-house heat release analysis code for each cycle. A comparison between individual cycles and the “ensemble averaged cycle” was made for both diesel–NG and POMDME–NG combustion. For the early SOI of 310 CAD, the peak cylinder pressure fluctuations of individual cycle were found to be ± 15 bar for both fuel combinations, compared to the ensemble averaged cycle, and < 1/10th of the cycles had an IMEPg lower than 0.05 bar of the ensemble averaged cycle. However, the peak pressure fluctuations were found to be lower for POMDME–NG (±3 bar) than diesel–NG dual fuel combustion at 350 CAD SOI, indicating lower cyclic variations. The higher reactivity of POMDME helped reduce fluctuations in combustion phasing at the retarded SOI. The presence of cycles of deterioration and cycles of recovery were also observed with diesel–NG combustion for 310 CAD SOI, and the scatter in the IMEPg return map was similar for both fuel combinations. The IMEPg return map for POMDME–NG combustion was less scattered at the 350 CAD SOI.

Engineering↗

NUMERICAL INVESTIGATION OF FUEL PROPERTY EFFECTS ON MIXED-MODE COMBUSTION IN A SPARK-IGNITION ENGINE

In the present study, mixed-mode combustion of an E30 fuel in a direct-injection spark-ignition engine is numerically investigated at a fuel-lean operating condition using multidimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD). A fuel surrogate matching Research Octane Number (RON) and Motor Octane Number (MON) of E30 is first developed using neural network based non-linear regression model. To enable efficient 3D engine simulations, a 164-species skeletal reaction mechanism incorporating NO, chemistry is reducedfrom a detailed chemical kinetic model. A hybrid approach that incorporates the G-equation model for tracking turbulentflame front, and the multi-zone well-stirred reactor model for predicting auto-ignition in the end gas, is employed to account for turbulent combustion interactions in the engine cylinder. Predicted in-cylinder pressure and heat release rate traces agree well with experimental measurements. The proposed modelling approach also captures moderated cyclic variability. Two different types of combustion cycles, corresponding to purely deflagrative and mixed-mode combustion, are observed. In contrast to the purely deflagrative cycles, mixed-mode combustion cycles feature early flame propagation followed by end-gas auto-ignition, leading to two distinctive peaks in heat release rate traces. The positive correlation between mixed-mode combustion cycles and early flame propagation is well captured by simulations. With the validated numerical setup, effects of NOx chemistry on mixed-mode combustion predictions are investigated. NOx chemistry is found to promote auto-ignition through residual gas recirculation, while the deflagrative flame propagation phase remains largely unaffected. Local sensitivity analysis is then performed to understand effects of physical and chemical properties of the fuel, i.e., heat of evaporation (HoV) and laminar flame speed (S-L). An increased HoV tends to suppress end-gas auto-ignition due to increased vaporization cooling, while the impact of HoV on flame propagation is insignificant. In contrast, an increased SL is found to significantly promote both flame propagation and auto-ignition. The promoting effect of SL on auto-ignition is not a direct chemical effect; it is rather caused by an advancement of the combustion phasing, which increases compression heating of the end gas.

detailed chemical kinetics↗

Effect of fuel composition and EGR on spark-ignited engine combustion with LPG fueling: Experimental and numerical investigation

This paper presents an experimental and numerical investigation of a spark-ignited (SI) cooperative fuel research (CFR) engine fueled with different liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) fuels and exhaust gas recirculation (EGR). Here, the effects of LPG fuel composition on engine combustion characteristics are initially evaluated at two different compression ratios (CR). Results show normal combustion at CR 7 and heavy knocking combustion at CR 10 for all the tested fuels, with a more substantial impact for the LPG fuel with high proportions of n-butane species. The Livengood-Wu (LW) integral method is then used to analyze the knock occurrence risk of individual fuel based on the reactivity of the tested fuels. The introduction of EGR then demonstrates the potential of knock intensity reduction below the borderline knock limit. A zonal-based kinetic interactions study is also performed to understand the knock mitigation effectiveness of EGR over the pressure–temperature domain relevant to SI engine operation. Finally, a multidimensional, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation model is shown to predict the LPG combustion characteristics and presents the evolution of in-cylinder temperature and chemical species to demonstrate the development of end-gas autoignition events without and with EGR.

02 PETROLEUM↗

EVALUATION OF CONTROLLED END GAS AUTO IGNITION WITH EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION IN A STOICHIOMETRIC, SPARK IGNITED, NATURAL GAS ENGINE

Many stationary and heavy-duty on-road natural gas fueled engines today operate under stoichiometric conditions with a three-way catalyst. The disadvantage of stoichiometric natural gas engines compared to lean-burn natural gas and diesel engines is lower efficiency, resulting primarily from lower power density and compression ratio. Exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) coupled with advanced combustion controls can enable operation with higher compression ratio and power density, which yields higher efficiency. This also results in engine operation between the limits of knock and misfire. Operation between these limits has been named controlled end gas auto-ignition (C-EGAI) and can be used to improve the brake efficiency of the engine. Various methods of cylinder pressure-based knock quantification were explored to implement C-EGAI. The indicated quantification methods are used for the implementation of a control scheme for C-EGAI with a relation to the fractional heat release due to auto-ignition. A custom EGR system was built and the effect of EGR on the performance of a stochiometric, spark ignited, natural gas engine is evaluated. C-EGAI is implemented and the optimal parameters are determined for peak performance under EGR and C-EGAI conditions. In this study, knock detection is used for the recognition, magnitude, and location of the auto-ignition events. Cylinder pressure-based knock detection was the primary method for determining the occurrence and location of knock but was also used for implementing the ignition control scheme for controlled end gas auto-ignition. The combustion intensity metric (CIM) enabled parametric ignition timing control which allowed for the creation of a relationship between fractional heat release due to auto-ignition and CIM. Many stationary and heavy-duty on-road natural gas fueled engines today operate under stoichiometric conditions with a three-way catalyst. The disadvantage of stoichiometric natural gas engines compared to lean-burn natural gas and diesel engines is lower efficiency, resulting primarily from lower power density and compression ratio. Exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) coupled with advanced combustion controls can enable operation with higher compression ratio and power density, which yields higher efficiency. This also results in engine operation between the limits of knock and misfire. Operation between these limits has been named controlled end gas auto-ignition (C-EGAI) and can be used to improve the brake efficiency of the engine. Various methods of cylinder pressure-based knock quantification were explored to implement C-EGAI. The indicated quantification methods are used for the implementation of a control scheme for C-EGAI with a relation to the fractional heat release due to auto-ignition. A custom EGR system was built and the effect of EGR on the performance of a stochiometric, spark ignited, natural gas engine is evaluated. C-EGAI is implemented and the optimal parameters are determined for peak performance under EGR and C-EGAI conditions. In this study, knock detection is used for the recognition, magnitude, and location of the auto-ignition events. Cylinder pressure-based knock detection was the primary method for determining the occurrence and location of knock but was also used for implementing the ignition control scheme for controlled end gas auto-ignition. The combustion intensity metric (CIM) enabled parametric ignition timing control which allowed for the creation of a relationship between fractional heat release due to auto-ignition and CIM. Both exhaust gas recirculation and controlled end gas auto-ignition were analyzed with a cooperative fuel research (CFR) engine modified for boosted fuel/air intake. The data was interpreted to provide a proper evaluation of unique analytical methods to quantify the results of C_EGAI and characterize the live auto-ignition events. The control variables for this method of C-EGAI were optimized with EGR conditions to generate the point of peak performance on the CFR engine under stoichiometric, spark ignited, natural gas conditions.

Bayliff, Scott Michael↗

Flexible Natural Gas/Hydrogen CHP System

This project included design, development, and demonstration of a cost-effective and scalable, unique-to-the-industry 2.0 MWe fuel-flexible Caterpillar G3516 CHP genset that can run on 100% hydrogen, 100% natural gas, and up to 25% blends of hydrogen in natural gas (volume basis). This was accomplished based on over two years of extensive R&D work done on a single-cylinder engine for developing innovative hydrogen fueling, combustion, air, and electronic control systems design and strategies. Findings from the single-cylinder engine work were scaled up and applied for modifications of and lab testing and development of a 2.0 MWe 16-cylinder G3516 fuel-flexible engine-genset and electronic controls systems. During this testing and development in the engine lab, the genset was run on 100% hydrogen, 100% natural gas, and up to 25% blends of hydrogen in natural gas (volume basis) and its steady-state and transient performance and emission were documented.

03 NATURAL GAS↗

A direct numerical simulation study of the dilution tolerance of propane combustion under spark-ignition engine conditions

Modern spark ignition internal combustion (IC) engines rely on highly diluted fuel-air mixtures to achieve high brake thermal efficiencies. To support this, new engine designs have introduced high stroke-to-bore ratios and cylinder head designs that promote high tumble flow and turbulence intensities. However, mixture dilution through exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) is limited by combustion instabilities manifested in the form of cycle-to-cycle variability. Propane has been observed to have superior EGR dilution tolerance than gasoline, which makes it a very competitive low-carbon fuel for the new IC engines without sacrificing efficiency. Two-dimensional direct numerical simulations (DNS) are performed with detailed chemistry to study and contrast the effect of turbulence intensity and dilution on propane and iso-octane premixed flames at high pressure conditions similar to those in-cylinder. A new reduced mechanism for propane consisting of 53 transported species and 17 quasi-steady state species is developed based on a previously published mechanism and used in these simulations. Three levels of turbulence intensity and two levels of exhaust gas dilution are chosen based on conditions relevant to IC engine operation. The DNS results are analyzed based on the evolution of the flame surface area and the statistics of its driving terms, which are found to be similar for both fuels when there is no dilution but considerably different under high dilution. The analysis of the DNS data provides fundamental insights into the underlying mechanisms for improved stability under dilution.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Performance of direct injected propane and gasoline in a high stroke-to-bore ratio SI engine: Pathways to diesel efficiency parity with ultra low soot

This work explores pathways to achieve diesel-like, high-efficiency combustion with stoichiometric 3-way catalyst compatible combustion in a single-cylinder spark ignition (SI) research engine. A unique high stroke-to-bore engine design (1.5:1) with cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) and high compression ratio ( r c ) was used to improve engine efficiency by up to 30% compared with a production turbocharged gasoline direct injection spark ignition engine. Engine experiments were conducted with both 91 RON E10 gasoline and liquified petroleum gas (LPG) (i.e. autogas) and were compared to legacy gasoline data on the production engine. Geometric compression ratio ( r c ) of 13.3:1 was used for both fuels with additional experiments at 16.8:1 for LPG only. Measurements of exhaust soot particle size and number concentrations were made with both fuels. Significant reduction in soot particles across the whole particle size range were achieved with LPG due to the elimination of in-cylinder liquid films. The effects of EGR, late intake valve closing (IVC) and fuel characteristics were investigated through their effects on efficiency, combustion stability and soot production. Results of 47% gross thermal efficiency, and 45% net thermal efficiency at stoichiometric engine operation, at up to 17 bar IMEP and 2000 r/min with 16.8:1 r c were achieved with LPG. Estimated brake efficiency values were compared to a contemporary medium duty diesel engine illustrating the benefits of the chosen path for achieving diesel efficiency parity.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

Integrated hydrogen generator and compressor with related method

An integrated hydrogen generator and compressor (200) that includes a combined engine compressor (collectively 109, 110, 111) and steam-methane reformer (104) to produce high-pressure hydrogen from natural gas (methane). The reformer (104) combines methane, water, and heat under high pressure in the presence of an appropriate catalyst, to produce hydrogen utilizing waste heat from combustion cylinders of the combined engine compressor (collectively 109, 110, 111). Compression serves to pressurize two different gases (methane and hydrogen) in different compression cylinders including the compression cylinders (109a, 109b, 109c) of the combined engine compressor (collectively 109, 110, 111) alternatively and/or optionally combined with internal combustion engine (310) and/or gas compressor(s) (410) that are integrated thermally and via communication of compressed gases.

08 HYDROGEN↗

Characterization of the pressure coefficient of manganin and temperature evolution of pressure in piston-cylinder cells

Here, we report measurements of the temperature- and pressure-dependent resistance, R ( T , p ), of a manganin manometer in a 4 He-gas pressure setup from room temperature down to the solidification temperature of 4 He ( T solid ~ 50 K at 0.8 GPa) for pressures, p , between 0 GPa and ~0.8 GPa. The same manganin wire manometer was also measured in a piston-cylinder cell (PCC) from 300 K down to 1.8 K and for pressures between 0 GPa and ~2 GPa. From these data, we infer the temperature and pressure dependence of the pressure coefficient of manganin, α ( T , p ), defined by the equation R p = (1 + αp ) R 0 , where R 0 and R p are the resistances of manganin at ambient pressure and finite pressure, respectively. Our results indicate that upon cooling, α first decreases, then goes through a broad minimum at ~120 K, and increases again toward lower temperatures. In addition, we find that α is almost pressure-independent at T ≳ 60 K up to p ~ 2 GPa, but shows a pronounced p dependence at T ≲ 60 K. Using this manganin manometer, we demonstrate that p overall decreases with decreasing temperature in the PCC for the full pressure range and that the size of the pressure difference between room temperature and low temperatures ( T = 1.8 K), Δ p , decreases with increasing pressure. We also compare the pressure values inferred from the manganin manometer with the low-temperature pressure, determined from the superconducting transition temperature of elemental lead (Pb). As a result of these data and analysis, we propose a practical algorithm to infer the evolution of pressure with temperature in a PCC.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Assessment of an E10 gasoline surrogate: Qualitative and quantitative comparisons of in-cylinder spray morphology

A minimum-component gasoline fuel surrogate that captures both chemical and physical behaviors of a full-distillate fuel is needed for high-fidelity CFD simulations. This study evaluates gasoline spray characteristics in a direct-injection spark-ignition engine under motored operation. Two fuels are compared; PACE-20, which is a 9-component surrogate formulation of RD5-87, is compared with its target fuel RD5-87, which is a full-boiling range research grade E10 gasoline. The spray morphologies of both fuels are recorded for a centrally-located direct-injection 8-hole spray subject to intake air cross-flow during the early part of the intake stroke. High-speed imaging recorded scattered light of the side and axial projections of the liquid spray. Quantitative metrics were developed and employed to facilitate comparison of spray morphologies as well as to identify the transition in spray morphology due to flash boiling. This paper builds on a previous study of RD5-87 where coolant temperature (20°C–100°C), in-cylinder pressure (40–110 kPa), engine speed (650–1950 rpm), and injection pressure (60–180 bar) were systematically changed to span operating conditions with and without flash boiling. Images of the PACE-20 morphology are selected for a sub-set of operating conditions from the previous study where distinctive morphology changes occurred. Visual inspection of the images and quantitative metrics demonstrate that the PACE-20 spray morphology is equivalent to that of the RD5-87 in most cases. The exception was for changes in the ambient-gas pressure where the flash-boiling transition occurred at ∼5 kPa higher in-cylinder pressure for PACE-20. Three empirical metrics, Merging Index, Asymmetry, and Flash Index are proposed here and they were found to be useful both as quantitative comparisons of the fuel morphologies, and for identifying the transition in spray morphology due to flash boiling.

Kim, Namho↗