Measurement of Fuel Distribution in a Small PFI Spark-Ignition Engine Using Tracer PLIF

The distribution of fuel-air mixture inside the engine cylinder strongly influences the combustion process. Planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) is commonly used for fuel distribution measurement, however, it is mostly reported on moderate- to large-sized engines. In the present work, PLIF is applied to measure the fuel distribution inside the cylinder of a small, four-stroke, port-fuel-injection (PFI), spark-ignition engine with displacement volume of 110 cm3. Iso-octane was used as the base fuel, and 3-pentanone (15% by volume) was added as a fluorescent tracer in the base fuel. The effect of equivalence ratio, considering ϕ = 1.2, 1.0, and 0.8, on in-cylinder fuel distribution was studied with low throttle opening of 25% at 1200 rpm. PLIF images were recorded at different crank angle degrees during both intake and compression strokes over a swirl measurement plane located at the TDC position. It was found that the fuel stratification was present from intake to even late compression. Also, no significant change in fuel distribution patterns was noted at different crank angle degrees for a given operating condition. Instantaneous PLIF images of the fuel distribution at 330 CAD during compression also showed a considerable variation from one cycle to the next. As expected, the fluorescence signal intensity was increased with the increase in equivalence ratio. Results also showed that the fuel distribution was much more noticeable near the diametrically opposite location to the spark plug on the tested engine, and continued to exist till late compression (i.e. 330 CAD).