Thermal Analysis of Steel and Aluminium Pistons for an HSDI Diesel Engine

Chromium-molybdenum alloy steel pistons, which have been used in commercial vehicle applications for some time, have more recently been proposed as a means of improving thermal efficiency in light-duty applications. This work reports a comparison of the effects of geometrically similar aluminium and steel pistons on the combustion characteristics and energy flows on a single cylinder high-speed direct injection diesel research engine tested at two speed / load conditions (1500 rpm / 6.9 bar nIMEP and 2000 rpm/25.8 bar nIMEP) both with and without EGR. The results indicate that changing to an alloy steel piston can provide a significant benefit in brake thermal efficiency at part-load and a reduced (but non-negligible) benefit at the high-load condition and also a reduction in fuel consumption. These benefits were attributed primarily to a reduction in friction losses. In terms of energy transfer, switching to the steel piston design was shown to reduce heat transfer to the coolant, consistent with lower friction work and reduced conduction through the ring pack, and increase the energy transfer to the oil. Piston blowby was also greatly reduced. Ignition delay times and overall combustion durations were reduced with the steel piston design, possibly indicative of higher piston surface temperatures.