Combustion studies for high speed direct injection diesel engines under low temperature cold start conditions

Abstract

Road transportation sector faces nowadays the challenge of satisfying the growing demands for mobility and at the same time to reduce its negative impact on environment. The panorama for the future is to reduce to zero the tank-to-wheel emissions levels with electric vehicles. Nevertheless, the extended use and massive production of this kind of vehicles is compromised due to different factors. On the one hand, the technology has to keep evolving in order to improve its reliability and to reduce acquisition costs. And on the other hand, cities, legislations and users have to get ready in order to make an appropriate use of these vehicles. What will happen in short and medium term is the transition from current vehicles, powered by internal combustion engines, to 100% electric cars. For this transition, diesel engines will continue having an extended use, or even more, due to their capacity of accomplishing with emissions legislations with low fuel consumption. To be competitive, diesel engine technology has to continue improving in order to satisfying markets requirements being respectful with environment.

Cold start is one of the most problematic combustion phases for diesel engines. During this phase, a large proportion of pollutants are produced within the cylinder due to misfiring and incomplete combustion due to the low engine temperatures. Furthermore, exhaust after-treatment devices work inefficiently since their minimum operation temperatures cannot be reached. In addition to this, at temperatures below 0ºC the possibility of continuous misfiring could actually impede the engine start. This is the combustion phase on which this study has been focused. Different authors have made efforts to give directions in pro of cold start combustion optimization. But these studies are scarce and it is missed a fundamental understanding of how diesel combustion is under this conditions. Knowing this, the planned objective for this thesis is to contribute to the understa