This study experimentally investigates the combined effects of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) and injection timing on the combustion and emission characteristics of a hydrogen direct injection engine. A single-cylinder 395 cc research engine was used, with injection timing varied from 60° to 180° BTDC and EGR rates from 0% to 30%. In-cylinder pressure, apparent heat release rate (AHRR), NOx, and unburned hydrogen concentrations were measured to analyze the influence of mixture formation and dilution on engine performance. Under non-EGR conditions, retarding the injection timing promoted mixture stratification, resulting in faster flame propagation and shorter combustion duration. However, localized high-temperature regions increased NOx formation, while incomplete combustion in lean or rich zones elevated unburned hydrogen emissions. When EGR was introduced, both ignition delay and combustion duration increased due to reduced oxygen concentration and thermal dilution. Nevertheless

Yang, Heetae, Ki, Youngmin, Kim, Jungho Justin, Kim, Jinsu, Bae, Choongsik, Hwang, Joonsik

An Integrated Methodology for Sustainable Mobility Infrastructure Planning: The Atlanta Aerotropolis Case Study

2026-01-0097

4/7/2026

By the early 2020s, more than 4.5 billion people have been living in urban areas worldwide, compared to just 1 billion in 1960. Rising growth in urban populations present challenges to infrastructure and transportation systems. Higher traffic levels and reliance on conventional vehicles have contributed to heightened greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, rising global temperatures, and irreversible environmental degradation. In response, emerging transportation solutions—including intelligent ridesharing, autonomous vehicles, zero-tailpipe-emission transport, and urban air mobility—offer opportunities for safer and more sustainable transportation ecosystems. However, their widespread adoption depends not only on technological performance and efficiency, but also on integration with current infrastructure, safety, resilience to unexpected disruptions, and economic viability. A dynamic agent-based System-of-Systems (SoS) transportation model is developed to simulate vehicle traffic and human

Rana, Vishva, Balchanos, Michael, Mavris, Dimitri, Valenzuela Del Rio, Jose

A Dynamic Driver Comfort Index for Stabilizing Mixed Traffic Behavior

2026-01-0099

4/7/2026

Despite remarkable advances in vehicle technology - enhancing comfort, safety, and automation – productivity of transportation over the road continues to decline. Stop-and-go driving remains one of the most persistent inefficiencies in modern mobility systems, leading to greater travel delays, energy waste, emissions, and accident risk. As vehicle volumes rise, these effects compound into systemic challenges, including driver frustration, unstable flow dynamics, and elevated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. To address these issues, an extensive data-driven evaluation was performed characterizing the underlying causes of traffic instability and uncovering hidden behavioral parameters influencing traffic flow. This research led to the identification of a previously unrecognized metric - the Driver Comfort Index (DCI) - which quantifies an inter-vehicle spacing behavior that reflects intrinsic human driving behavior. Building on this discovery, mixed traffic is explored to identify its

Schlueter, Georg J.

A Latent Space Framework for Modeling Transient Engine Emissions Using Joint Embedding Predictive Architectures

2026-01-0423

4/7/2026

Accurately modeling and controlling vehicle exhaust emissions, particularly during highly transient events such as rapid acceleration, is crucial for meeting stringent environmental regulations and optimizing modern powertrain systems. While conventional data-driven modeling methods, such as Multilayer Perceptrons (MLPs) and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks, have improved upon earlier phenomenological or physics-based models, they often struggle to capture the complex nonlinear dynamics of emission formation. These monolithic architectures attempt to learn from all available data, which increases their sensitivity to dataset variability. They often require increasingly deep and complex architectures to improve performance, thereby limiting their practical utility. This paper introduces a novel approach that overcomes these limitations by modeling emission dynamics in a structured latent space. Using a rich dataset combining real-world driving data from a Portable Emission

Sundaram, Ganesh, Gehra, Tobias, Ulmen, Jonas, Heubaum, Mirjan, Görges, Daniel, Günthner, Michael

Effect of Passive Pre-Chamber Geometry on Performance and Emissions of a Single-Cylinder Natural Gas Large Bore Engine

2026-01-0333

4/7/2026

The maritime industry is one of the most energy-intensive sectors, characterized by high fuel consumption and significant environmental impact. As global trade relies on shipping, the challenge of reducing pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions becomes ever more pressing. Natural gas (NG) is considered as a transitional fuel, capable of lowering CO₂ emissions by 20–30% compared to conventional marine fuels. However, to fully harness this potential, significant advances in combustion technology are necessary, particularly with ultra-lean combustion strategies. One of the most promising pathways is pre-chamber combustion, a solution that can simultaneously improve the efficiency and sustainability of NG marine engines. In this scenario, the passive pre-chamber geometry plays a key role, as it directly influences ignition behavior, combustion stability, and exhaust emissions. This work presents an experimental study conducted on a single-cylinder marine engine prototype, retrofitted from

Marchitto, Luca, Tornatore, Cinzia, Pennino, Vincenzo, Mariani PhD, Antonio, Beatrice, Carlo, Accurso, Francesco, Gorietti, Valentina, Pesce, Francesco, Giardino, Angelo, Vitti, Luciano

Impact of Hydrogen on Methane and Pollutant Emissions over Three-Way Catalysts with Natural Gas–Hydrogen Blends

2026-01-0357

4/7/2026

Blending natural gas (NG) with hydrogen (H₂) can improve combustion and engine performance while potentially facilitating the catalytic conversion of methane and other pollutants, resulting in cleaner tailpipe emissions. This study evaluates the impact of H2 on the conversion of methane, CO, and NOx emissions on a commercial three-way catalyst (TWC) in a flow reactor using synthetic gas mixtures that simulate stoichiometric engine exhausts with NG or NG+H₂ combustion. The work examines whether, and how, the additional amount of H₂ in the exhaust stream affects the conversion efficiency of methane and other pollutants. Experiments were conducted with both degreened and aged catalysts under controlled conditions, systematically varying temperature, the air-to-fuel equivalence ratio (λ), and λ modulation. Test conditions covered λ values from 0.996 to 1.000 to represent nominally stoichiometric engine operation with different λ modulation amplitudes, as well as a range of temperatures to

Prikhodko, Vitaly, Wang, Min, Park, Yeonshil, Chen, Hai-Ying, Pihl, Josh

Sensorless Estimation of In-Cabin CO ₂ Concentration for Model-Based Air Recirculation Control

2026-01-0130

4/7/2026

This paper introduces a sensorless approach for data-driven modeling of in-cabin CO2 concentration to optimize air recirculation flap control without the need for a dedicated CO2 sensor. Elevated CO2 concentrations, resulting from passenger exhalation, can impair occupants’ cognitive function and comfort. Current state-of-the-art solutions rely either on time-based control strategies, which lack responsiveness to actual cabin conditions, or on direct CO2 measurements via sensors, which increase system complexity and costs. In contrast, the proposed approach aims to replicate the benefits of sensor-based control without requiring physical sensors. In this study, a model-based methodology is presented, utilizing empirical CO2 measurement data collected from real-world test drives at varying occupancies, fan stages, vehicle speeds, and flap positions. Data acquisition involves a multi-gas analyzer positioned within the passengers’ breathing zone under controlled operation of the vehicle’s

Stürmer, Michael, Geier, Bertram, Hofstetter, Martin, Hirz, Mario

Enhancing LiDAR Performance under Fog with Adaptive Multi-Echo and Feature-Based Filtering

2026-01-0011

4/7/2026

LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) systems are essential for autonomous driving (AD) and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), providing accurate 3D perception of the surrounding environment. However, their performance significantly deteriorates under adverse weather conditions such as fog, where laser pulses are scattered by airborne particles, resulting in substantial noise and reduced ranging accuracy. This scattering effect makes it difficult to detect objects within or behind particulate matter, posing a serious challenge for reliable perception in real-world driving scenarios. To address this issue, we propose an algorithm that combines adaptive multi-echo signal processing with a feature-integrated, rule-based denoising framework to enhance LiDAR performance in noisy environments. The multi-echo approach selectively utilizes meaningful signal returns by evaluating both intensity and relative echo positions. Based on predefined rules, the algorithm identifies the echo most

Kaito, Seiya, Zheng, Shengchao, Fujioka, Ibuki, Beppu, Taro

Effect of Renewable Fuel Blends on Particulate Emissions under Medium Engine Load and Injector Coking Conditions in a GDI Engine

2026-01-0301

4/7/2026

Renewable gasoline is blended with fossil gasoline as part of the effort to achieve zero net carbon emissions. This study examined how five gasoline fuels with different hydrocarbon compositions affect engine-out gaseous and particle number (PN) emissions. Gasolines F3 and F4 reduce GHG emissions by 54% and 35%, compared with fossil gasoline. The other three gasolines reduce GHG emissions by 4-9%. Tests were conducted on a single-cylinder GDI engine at 10-14 bar indicated mean effective pressure (IMEP) and 2000 rpm. The injector-tip coking behavior of the test fuels and the resulting PN emissions were also investigated at 10 bar IMEP. Spray plume targets and start-of-injection (SOI) timing were adjusted to examine how the test fuels affected PN emissions. An endoscope was used to identify the sources of soot during fuel combustion. The experimental results show that PN varies with gasoline composition and engine operating conditions. Aromatics and olefins contribute more to injector

Muniappan, Krishnamoorthi, Dahlander, Petter, Helmantel, Ayolt, Alemahdi, Nika, Lehto, Kalle

Achieving 70% Urban Fuel Consumption Reduction: An Opposed-Piston Engine-Based Mild-Hybrid Powertrain Architecture for Light Commercial Vehicles (JLA-2/JLA-T)

2026-01-0432

4/7/2026

This paper proposes a novel powertrain architecture for the urban Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) segment, leveraging the compact JLA-2 opposed-piston (OP) engine paired with the reconfigurable JLA-T mild-hybrid architecture. Within SAE literature, OP engines are consistently associated with simplicity. As highlighted by Tom Ryan III (2008 SAE President) in the foreword of Opposed Piston Engines: Evolution, Use, and Future Applications, this architecture is characterized by its manufacturing simplicity” and described as a “relatively simple, robust, and cost effective” power unit solution. The present work builds on this established view. The JLA-2 engine solves traditional packaging constraints by reducing the block width by 30% for horizontal installation and is volumetrically self-sufficient, eliminating external compressors. Although the gear train required for crank synchronization introduces design challenges, explicitly accounted for in our model, the elimination of the cylinder

Nigro, Norberto, Aguerre, Horacio, Carignano, Mauro Guido, Alonso, José Luis, Juni, Carlos A.

Total Cost of Ownership Reduction Using Passive Pre-Chamber Ignition in Natural Gas Engines

2026-01-0309

4/7/2026

Spark plug durability is a factor affecting the total cost of ownership (TCO) of spark-ignited natural gas engines, with some heavy-duty platforms requiring plug replacement after only 750 hours of operation. The high ignition energy demand under lean or diluted conditions accelerates electrode wear, shortening plug life and increasing maintenance frequency. This work evaluates passive pre-chamber (PC) ignition operating at lowered spark energies as a strategy to reduce spark energy requirements and extend plug durability, thereby lowering TCO. Experiments were conducted on a medium-duty Cummins 6.7L ISB engine at 1600 RPM and 50% load under varying exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) dilution levels (0–40%). Two passive pre-chambers with 1.1 mm and 1.6 mm nozzle diameters were compared with conventional spark ignition (SI). SI was operated with a fixed coil dwell of 4 ms (~90 mJ), while the PC configuration was tested across 2–4 ms dwell times (~30–90 mJ). Cylinder pressure analysis

Dhotre, Akash, Voris, Alex, Okey, Nathan, Kane, Seamus, Rajasegar, Rajavasanth, Northrop, William

Characterisation of Particle Number and Size from a DI SI Engine Operating on Hydrogen versus Gasoline: Operating Sensitivities and Filtration Effects

2026-01-0378

4/7/2026

Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engines (H₂ICEs) offer the potential for near-zero carbon emissions. However, while nitrogen oxide (NOₓ) emissions have been extensively studied, particulate emissions, specifically particle number (PN), which are widely attributed to in the literature to lubricant oil pyrolysis and exacerbated by hydrogen’s short quenching distance, remain less well understood. This study investigates exhaust-gas particle emission characteristics from a spark-ignition, single-cylinder research engine based on MAHLE Powertrain’s downsizing engine combustion system. The work was carried out at Brunel University of London and compares gasoline and hydrogen direct-injection strategies (central versus side injection) across a wide range of operating conditions, including variations in engine speed, load, air–fuel ratio (λ), rail pressure, and spark timing. While previous studies have investigated hydrogen particle formation mechanisms under isolated operating conditions, the

Harrington, Anthony, Zaman, Zayne, Nickolaus, Chris, Zhao, Hua, Wang, Xinyan, Hall, Jonathan

Beyond PFAS: Unlocking the Potential of R290 and R744 for EV Efficiency

2026-01-0127

4/7/2026

The anticipated PFAS ban in the US by 2029 has created a need to evaluate alternative refrigerant solutions for automotive thermal management systems. This work compares three candidates—Propane (R290), Carbon Dioxide (R744), and R1234yf—through system-level testing and demonstration projects. R1234yf remains the current industry baseline. Test results show that Propane (R290) delivers comparable efficiency while offering a significantly lower global warming potential. However, its flammability presents integration challenges, not present with R1234yf or R744. CO₂ (R744) demonstrated promising performance as well. To address safety concerns with Propane, AVL developed mitigation measures including rapid leak detection, robust containment strategies, and optimized circuit layouts designed to reduce ignition risks. These countermeasures were validated in practice through the European Commission’s QUIET project. Within this program, a Honda B-segment electric vehicle was equipped with a

bires, Michael, Possegger, Jonathan

The Influence of Split Injection Ratio on Efficiency and NO _x Emissions in a Pilot Diesel-Ignited Hydrogen Direct Injection Engine

2026-01-0329

4/7/2026

This study investigates the impact of the hydrogen split injection ratio on the combustion of pilot diesel-ignited hydrogen direct-injection engines, which is expected to affect hydrogen-air mixture conditions and thus flame propagation and diffusion flame developments. Experiments were conducted on a 1-litre single-cylinder diesel engine equipped with an additional hydrogen injector operating at 35 MPa. Hydrogen accounting for 95% of total input energy was injected at 150 and 60 °CA bTDC for the first and second pulses, which were selected as high-efficiency injection timings from previous equal-split injection tests. The 5% diesel energy was injected near TDC to control CA50 at 10 °CA aTDC. While varying the split ratio between the two hydrogen injections, in-cylinder pressure/aHRR profiles, engine efficiency/power output and engine-out emissions of NOx and CO2 were evaluated. Results showed that the hydrogen split ratio does not significantly affect IMEP/efficiency, which

Zhao, Yifan, Chan, Qing Nian, Kook, Sanghoon

The Impact of Various Renewable Hydrocarbons on Performance and Emissions in a Super Lean Burn Engine

2026-01-0306

4/7/2026

Compared to regular fuels, biofuels can play a key role as low-carbon transitional energy sources for ICE vehicles as the fleet moves towards increasing electrification. Blending of ethanol plays a key role in enhancing the anti-knock properties of the fuel and also allows renewable hydrocarbons (such as bio-naphtha) to be incorporated into the blend whilst maintaining an acceptable overall fuel quality. Super lean burn ICE technology with λ between 2 and 3 can lead to enhanced fuel economy and reduced NOx emissions. The Toyota prototype engine used to generate data for this project injects most of the fuel in PFI mode to generate a homogeneous super-lean charge in the cylinder, but just before spark ignition the DI injector sprays a small amount of fuel towards the spark plug to create a richer charge near the spark plug to promote flame kernel development. Various fuel formulations with high biofuel content were tested in both conventional and super lean burn engines. Certain fuel

Aradi, Allen, Krueger-Venus, Jens, Jain, Sandeep Kumar, Cracknell, Roger, Kolbeck, Andreas, Shibuya, Masahiko, Yamada, Ryota, Matsubara, Naoyoshi, Kitano, Koji

Ultra-Low NOx Technologies for Heavy-Duty Applications with Reduced Total Cost of Ownership

2026-01-0294

4/7/2026

The utilization of gasoline engines in heavy-duty vehicles for the purpose of continental transportation is in direct competition with conventional diesel engines. It’s imperative that the operating performance of the gasoline engine is equivalent to the diesel engine, and that the gasoline engine shows efficiency benefit to both cost segments, the product manufacturing costs and total cost of ownership (TCO). The 11.6-liter gasoline engine developed has been designed and applicated in such a way that it operates at a stoichiometric combustion air ratio (λ = 1) across the entire engine map range without exception. In combination with external exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) this strategy does not result in a substantial decrease in the absolute NOx concentration in raw emissions compared to the diesel engine with 15.0-liter displacement, but it facilitates the cost-efficient utilization of the three-way catalyzer as the main exhaust aftertreatment system, thereby reducing NOx emissions

Medicke, Mario, Arnold, Thomas, Bohme, Jan, Krause, Matthias, Leesch, Mirko

Standardization of On-Vehicle Measurement of BEV Thermal System Energy Consumption and Range Impacts

2026-01-0132

4/7/2026

This paper presents research and digital twin modeling results to support work on a methodology to properly account for the energy consumed by the thermal system of a BEV, for use within both existing Petroleum-Equivalent Fuel Economy (PEFE) calculations, and the proposed addition of hot and cold weather range values to the consumer-facing Monroney label [1]. Properly accounting for thermal system impacts would incentivize minimizing energy consumption of these systems, since 1) BEV PEFE is a direct input to an OEMs overall CAFE performance, and 2) the values on the Monroney label has some impact on consumer vehicle choice. The impetus for this work was Final Rules issued by the EPA and NHTSA in early 2024 eliminating A/C Efficiency Credits for BEVs from the 2027 MY, thus eliminating regulatory incentives to minimize energy consumption of these systems. Higher energy consumption will produce a number of negative secondary effects, including higher real-world greenhouse gas emissions

Taylor, Dwayne

Experimental Study of Hydrogen Combustion in Argon-Oxygen Mixture Using an Optical Engine

2026-01-0328

4/7/2026

The Argon Power Cycle (APC) is an emerging high-efficiency combustion technology for internal combustion engines. In APC, the conventional air-based working fluid is replaced with an inert argon gas. This substitution inherently increases engine efficiency through thermodynamic properties of argon, in particular a high adiabatic factor ?? ~1.67. A hydrogen-fueled APC engine offers the potential for highly efficient zero emission combustion by also eliminating nitrogen oxide (NOx) formation. In the present paper, hydrogen combustion is studied in an optical heavy-duty research engine, with the objective of providing the first visualization of H2 combustion in an argon–oxygen mixture. A comparative analysis of high-speed optical imaging and in-cylinder pressure measurements is conducted for two different modes: 1) conventional air operation and 2) argon-oxygen mixture operation. The high-speed images reveal a distinctly different combustion process between the two operating modes. The

Kapp, Joakim, Cheng, Qiang, Kaario, Ossi, Vuorinen, Ville

Study of Deposit Control Additive Efficacy in Gasoline Direct Injection Engines

2026-01-0349

4/7/2026

There is an increasing adoption of Direct-Injection Spark-Ignition (DISI) engines in the market, which per 2024 US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Automotive Trends Report represents 73% of new vehicles sold in the US. And while it is well accepted that DISI offers advantages over Port Fuel Injection (PFI) technology in meeting stringent CO2 emissions and fuel economy requirements set by the EPA, DISI engines are also associated with increased formation of injector deposits. These deposits may foul injectors and accumulate on the injector tip causing distorted spray patterns and diffusive combustion. Ultimately, this leads to engine performance deterioration and increased harmful emissions. To control deposit formation, detergent-type chemistries are added to the fuel in small amounts. Deposit Control Additives (DCAs) function by preventing the formation of deleterious injector deposits as well as removing existing ones. This study used standardized protocols describing the

Soriano, Nestor, Williams, Rod, Cracknell, Roger, Lang, Wendy, Chahal, Jasprit

A New Approach for SI Combustion Modeling to Address the Upcoming Fuel Diversity Scenario

2026-01-0276

4/7/2026

Climate change concerns demand a drastic reduction in CO2 emissions, tending to what is called carbon neutrality. Even if political guidelines promote electrification, considering the transportation sector, not all applications have the same requirements and boundary conditions, and hence, their optimal solution is not necessarily the same. In this context, in parallel with pure electric powertrains, the internal combustion engine (ICE) still has a relevant role to play, mainly in hybrid powertrains, working together with an electrical motor. In this hybridization context, the spark-ignition (SI) engine uses to be the most adopted solution because of its lower cost and complexity. Consequently, it can be concluded that the SI engine will still play a significant role in the near future. However, when ICEs are considered, the search for carbon neutrality requires the use of fuels other than fossil fuels. At this point, many alternatives arise, from biofuels to synthetic e-fuels, or even

Robayo-Rueda, Daniel, Lopez, J. Javier, Martin, Jaime, Novella, Ricardo

Model-Based Development of a Heavy-Duty H ₂ -ICE and Integrated, Turbogeneration, Electrification, and Supercharging (ITES) System

2026-01-0426

4/7/2026

Changing global economic conditions and efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are driving the need to develop efficient, near-term, alternative propulsion system technologies for heavy-duty vehicles. This study combines a hydrogen internal combustion engine (H2-ICE) with electrically assisted turbocharging, exhaust energy recovery, and mild hybridization to maximize propulsion system efficiency and reduce NOx emissions. To reduce cost and packaging impact of integration of these technologies on an engine, the study presents a model-based development and optimization of an Integrated Turbogeneration, Electrification, and Supercharging (ITES) system that combines the enabling components into a single compact unit. In the first phase of this study, a H2-ICE and aftertreatment concept for a MY2027 7.7L medium heavy-duty on-road engine was developed and evaluated through 1D simulation. The concept was to convert a diesel engine by changing the cylinder head to implement a port fuel

Bustamante, Oscar, Correia Garcia, Bruno, Joshi, Satyum, Franke, Michael

Combustion Characterization of Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA) as an Alternative Fuel for Use in IC Engines

2026-01-0317

4/7/2026

In the endeavors to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, synthetic fuels from less carbon intensive feedstocks have emerged as a promising alternative to conventional fuels. These synthetic fuels have gained traction in the aviation industry as sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs). One such fuel is a synthetic paraffinic kerosene derived from hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA). Preliminary research has also suggested that this fuel may also be favorable for use in IC engines. This investigation will explore the combustion characteristics of HEFA in an IC engine in more detail. The thermophysical properties of HEFA were investigated and found comparable to or improving upon those of ULSD. Spray atomization analysis revealed more than 25% smaller SMD compared to ULSD, and lower span factor indicating a more uniform spray which can promote faster formation of a homogenous mixture. A tribological analysis using a pin-on-disk tribometer revealed

Soloiu, Valentin, Willis, James, Norton, Coleman, Davis, Zachary, Peralta Lopez, Guillermo, Rahman, Mosfequr

Impact of Hydrothermal Aging and Chemical Poisoning on NOx Reduction Performance of SCR – A Simulation Study

2026-01-0372

4/7/2026

Diesel aftertreatment systems continue to play a critical role in compliance of tailpipe criteria pollutant compliance for commercial transportation applications. Quantification of performance of the aftertreatment system in particular Selective Catalytic Reduction component as a function of aging is critical in ensuring real world tailpipe NOx standard for aged systems. As part of A2CAT-II consortium at Southwest research Institute this aspect of the production AT system was studied for different aging conditions using a set of DAAAC aged components. The performance of these aged components was quantified through a set of steady state reactor tests and transient ECTO burner lab tests that simulate on engine performance. The data was collected at 0, 33 and 100% equivalent aging conditions and this data was used to develop a GT suite-based model with a set of inhibition factors to simulate the loss of Ammonia Storage Capacity and reduced SCR reaction rates caused by thermal load and

Chundru, Venkata Rajesh, Sharp, Christopher, Gankov, Stanislav, Eakle, Scott

Combustion and Emission Characteristics of Biodiesel and Renewable Diesel in a 4-Stroke Locomotive Engine

2026-01-0315

4/7/2026

Rail transportation in North America consumes over 4 billion gallons of diesel fuel [1]. This is raising energy security and supply chain resilience concerns. Adopting renewable or alternative fuels is a practical approach to reduce petroleum dependence and improve supply security. The objective of this paper is to investigate the combustion and emission characteristics of biodiesel and renewable diesel as drop-in fuels without engine modification. In this study, a single-cylinder, four-stroke locomotive engine was employed to investigate the combustion and emissions characteristics of four fuels: conventional diesel No. 2, plant-based biodiesel, animal-based biodiesel, and renewable diesel. The experimental campaign was carried out under both part-load and full-load operating conditions, with injection duration adjusted to achieve the targeted engine load and speed. Results indicate that both biodiesel fuels and renewable diesel deliver comparable peak in-cylinder pressure and brake

Ewphun, Pop-Paul, Biruduganti, Munidhar, El-Hannouny, Essam, Longman, Douglas, Fu, Xiao, Subramanya, Raghavendra

Reactivity Controlled Compression Ignition (RCCI) Combustion Engine Characteristics Fuelled with Diesel/Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Diesel/Methanol Fuel Pairs

2026-01-0319

4/7/2026

Ultra-low oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) from reactivity-controlled compression ignition (RCCI) combustion have motivated researchers to explore more about low temperature combustion (LTC) engines. In this study, a comparative analysis of combustion, performance, and emission characteristics of RCCI combustion fuelled with diesel/compressed natural gas (CNG) and methanol/diesel fuel pairs has been carried out with respect to baseline compression ignition (CI) combustion. All experiments were performed in a constant speed engine at four different engine loads. For RCCI combustion experiments, a constant premixed ratio (rp= 0.50) and 15% exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) were used. The results exhibited a significant reduction in NOx emissions and relatively smoother RCCI combustion compared to baseline CI combustion. RCCI mode combustion resulted in relatively superior engine performance compared to baseline CI combustion, especially at higher engine loads. A

Saikia, Bhargav, Kant, Akshay, Gupta, Abhishek, Singh, Akhilendra Pratap

Heavy Duty Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine Emissions Development to Achieve Ultra-low NOx

2026-01-0356

4/7/2026

This paper presents the emissions development of a heavy-duty hydrogen internal-combustion engine (H₂ICE) targeting ultra-low NOx with a design goal of 20 mg/hp-hr. The approach integrates advanced thermal management of the engine and aftertreatment, including engine out NOx management through air-fuel ratio controls and an electric heater to accelerate catalyst light-off and sustain activity at low-load/idle conditions. A diesel-derived aftertreatment system (ATS) is selected to maximize practicality and component commonality, and an integrated controls strategy spanning the engine and ATS is implemented to demonstrate ultra-low NOx capability over EPA certification cycles. The paper concludes with considerations for periodic SCR regeneration to ensure emission compliance.

Shakya, Bijesh, Xu, Hui, Yang, Zhao, Stetter, John

Advanced Multifunctional Catalysts for Emission Control in Hydrogen and Diesel Engines

2026-01-0367

4/7/2026

As hydrogen internal combustion engines (H2-ICE) gain traction, optimizing exhaust aftertreatment technologies for nitrogen oxide (NOx) control has become increasingly critical. While selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems remain the primary approach for NOx mitigation, oxidation catalysts are also being explored to facilitate hydrogen oxidation and improve overall exhaust treatment efficiency. This work presents a multifunctional catalyst (MFC) concept that combines supported Pd and Cu-zeolite to enable simultaneous NOx reduction and hydrogen oxidation within a single catalytic unit. Preliminary results show that hydrogen oxidation on supported Pd occurs above 300 °C, while Cu-zeolite achieves nearly complete NOx conversion. Experiments on individual components indicate that supported Pd initiates ammonia oxidation only after hydrogen is depleted. In the presence of hydrogen, ammonia conversion remains below 20%, indicating that hydrogen availability suppresses ammonia oxidation

Danghyan, Vardan, Becker, Jan Martin, Hünnekes, Edgar, Patchett, Joseph

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