Boosting and stratified operation can be used to increase the fuel efficiency of modern gasoline direct-injected (GDI) engines. In modern downsized GDI engines, boosting is standard to achieve a high power output. However, boosted GDI-engines have mostly been operated in homogenous mode and little is known about the effects of operating a boosted GDI-engine in stratified mode.
This study employed optical and metal engines to examine how boosting influences combustion and particulate emission formation in a spray-guided GDI (SGDI), single cylinder research engine. The setup of the optical and metal engines was identical except the optical engine allowed optical access through the piston and cylinder liner.
The engines were operated in steady state mode at five different engine operating points representing various loads and speeds. The engines were boosted with compressed air and operated at three levels of boost, as well as atmospheric pressure for comparison. The fuel used was market gasoline (95 RON) blended with 10% ethanol. The spark plug and injector were mounted in parallel with the intake valves. The gas motion induced by the engine head was primarily tumble motion with a small amount of swirl.
Results on particulate emissions indicated that nucleation mode particulates increased with increasing boost. In contrast, agglomeration mode particulates decreased with increasing boost pressure. The combustion was found to consist of a yellow flame in the center of the combustion chamber and a pre-mixed blue flame in the perimeter. The optical studies indicated that the flame area decreased with increasing boost.
