Vehicle Implementation and Cold Start Calibration of a Port Injected M100 Engine Using Plasma Jet Ignition and Prompt EGR

This paper describes the vehicle implementation and cold start calibration of a neat methanol (M100) fuelled port injected engine equipped with plasma jet ignition and prompt exhaust gas recirculation. Test results are presented in which the influence of various factors on fuel enrichment requirements were studied with the aim of identifying strategies to reduce enrichment and lower start-up emissions. Vehicle cold starting has been demonstrated down to -30°C and studied in detail circa -20°C. Reductions in start-up CO emissions at -7°C have been achieved by means of early closed loop fuel control. Experimental results are also presented which indicate that the potential exists to reduce start-up hydrocarbon emissions at 25°C when appropriate calibration strategies are employed.