Integration of Fuel Auto-ignition Characteristics and HCCI Engine Operation

A recently improved Arrhenius fuel auto-ignition model was combined with a single zone explicit discrete Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI) engine model in order to investigate a wide range of combinations of fuel type with engine setup and operational configurations.

The engine model was validated using experimental data from a single cylinder variable compression ratio engine running in HCCI mode.

The model was used to identify promising and problematic areas for the combination of fuel properties, engine configurations and operational ranges. Insights regarding the interaction between trapped gas pressure and temperature histories and auto-ignition reaction rate surfaces in the pressure and temperature domain are presented.