Feasibility Study of Cylinder Deactivation (CDA) Technology for an Off-Highway Tractor Engine

Cylinder Deactivation technology is explored as an effective mechanism for enhancing the fuel economy and reducing emissions in internal combustion engines. The current exercise focuses upon the feasibility of Cylinder Deactivation technology in a 3-cylinder, 3.3-liter naturally aspirated, water-cooled diesel engine from the off-highway tractor application. A meticulous 1D thermodynamic simulation with individual cylinders deactivated one by one, has proved that deactivating the second cylinder yields the most favorable fuel economy, emissions and engine balancing, particularly at the loads lower than 54% and across all engine speeds. Upon deactivating the cylinders at Top Dead Centre (TDC) and Bottom Dead Centre (BDC), it has been concluded that the most effective deactivation point occurs at TDC, where the minimum air mass is trapped inside the cylinder. This results in a reduction of pumping and friction losses by maximum 34% and an increase in brake thermal efficiency by maximum 26%, as compared to the baseline engine. The in-cylinder trapped A/F ratio becomes richer by 32% when a cylinder is deactivated. As a consequence, the C1-8 mode NRSC cycle average HC and CO reduce by 22% and 28%, respectively. CO₂, NO_x and PM remains almost the same with respect to the baseline engine (variation less than 3%). The maximum increase in exhaust temperature when mid cylinder deactivated is observed 109°C. These observations are duly validated through the engine dynamometer testing.