Varying Ignition Quality of a Fuel for a HCCI Engine Using a Photochemically-Controlled Additive: The Development of a ‘Smart’ Fuel
This study examines the possibility to provide control over ignition timing in a homogeneous charge compression ignition engine (HCCI) using a fuel additive whose molecular structure can be adapted upon exposure to UV light. The UV adapted molecule has a greater influence on retarding ignition than...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-03-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/5/1470 |
| _version_ | 1797412240107765760 |
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| author | David Emberson Judit Sandquist Terese Løvås Alessandro Schönborn Inge Saanum |
| author_facet | David Emberson Judit Sandquist Terese Løvås Alessandro Schönborn Inge Saanum |
| author_sort | David Emberson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study examines the possibility to provide control over ignition timing in a homogeneous charge compression ignition engine (HCCI) using a fuel additive whose molecular structure can be adapted upon exposure to UV light. The UV adapted molecule has a greater influence on retarding ignition than the original molecule, hence the ignition time can be modulated upon expose to UV light. The new fuel is referred to as a ‘smart fuel’. The fuel additive is in the form of 1,3-cyclohexadiene (CHD), upon UV exposure it undergoes electro-cyclic ring opening to form 1,3,5-hexatriene (HT). Various solutions of iso-octane, n-heptane and CHD have been irradiated by UV light for different amounts of time. CHD to HT conversion was examined using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. A primary reference fuel (PRF) mixture of 90% iso-octane and 10% n-heptane was used as a baseline in an optically accessible combustion chamber in a large bore, single cylinder compression ignition engine. The engine was operated in HCCI mode, using early injection to provide homogeneous mixture and utilized heated and compressed air intake. Following this a PRF with 5% CHD was used in the engine. A PRF with 5% CHD was then irradiated with UV light for 240 min, resulting in a PRF mixture containing 1.72% HT, this was then used in the engine. The HT containing PRF had a much later start of combustion compared with the CHD containing PRF, which in turn had a later start of combustion compared with the PRF baseline. This study has successfully validated the concept of using a photo-chemical ‘smart’ fuel to significantly change the ignition quality of a fuel in HCCI mode combustion and demonstrated the concept of on-board ‘smart fuel’ applications for ICE. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:59:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-56c4fb6bb0674eecb48e3a99a726e9c1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:59:59Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-56c4fb6bb0674eecb48e3a99a726e9c12023-12-03T13:01:13ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732021-03-01145147010.3390/en14051470Varying Ignition Quality of a Fuel for a HCCI Engine Using a Photochemically-Controlled Additive: The Development of a ‘Smart’ FuelDavid Emberson0Judit Sandquist1Terese Løvås2Alessandro Schönborn3Inge Saanum4Department of Energy and Process Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, NorwaySINTEF Energy AS, 7034 Trondheim, NorwayDepartment of Energy and Process Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, NorwayWorld Maritime University, Maritime Energy Management (MEM), Fiskehamnsgatan 1, 211 18 Malmö, SwedenSINTEF Energy AS, 7034 Trondheim, NorwayThis study examines the possibility to provide control over ignition timing in a homogeneous charge compression ignition engine (HCCI) using a fuel additive whose molecular structure can be adapted upon exposure to UV light. The UV adapted molecule has a greater influence on retarding ignition than the original molecule, hence the ignition time can be modulated upon expose to UV light. The new fuel is referred to as a ‘smart fuel’. The fuel additive is in the form of 1,3-cyclohexadiene (CHD), upon UV exposure it undergoes electro-cyclic ring opening to form 1,3,5-hexatriene (HT). Various solutions of iso-octane, n-heptane and CHD have been irradiated by UV light for different amounts of time. CHD to HT conversion was examined using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. A primary reference fuel (PRF) mixture of 90% iso-octane and 10% n-heptane was used as a baseline in an optically accessible combustion chamber in a large bore, single cylinder compression ignition engine. The engine was operated in HCCI mode, using early injection to provide homogeneous mixture and utilized heated and compressed air intake. Following this a PRF with 5% CHD was used in the engine. A PRF with 5% CHD was then irradiated with UV light for 240 min, resulting in a PRF mixture containing 1.72% HT, this was then used in the engine. The HT containing PRF had a much later start of combustion compared with the CHD containing PRF, which in turn had a later start of combustion compared with the PRF baseline. This study has successfully validated the concept of using a photo-chemical ‘smart’ fuel to significantly change the ignition quality of a fuel in HCCI mode combustion and demonstrated the concept of on-board ‘smart fuel’ applications for ICE.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/5/1470HCCIignitionphoto-chemicalfuel additive1,3-cyclohexadiene1,3,5-hexatriene |
| spellingShingle | David Emberson Judit Sandquist Terese Løvås Alessandro Schönborn Inge Saanum Varying Ignition Quality of a Fuel for a HCCI Engine Using a Photochemically-Controlled Additive: The Development of a ‘Smart’ Fuel Energies HCCI ignition photo-chemical fuel additive 1,3-cyclohexadiene 1,3,5-hexatriene |
| title | Varying Ignition Quality of a Fuel for a HCCI Engine Using a Photochemically-Controlled Additive: The Development of a ‘Smart’ Fuel |
| title_full | Varying Ignition Quality of a Fuel for a HCCI Engine Using a Photochemically-Controlled Additive: The Development of a ‘Smart’ Fuel |
| title_fullStr | Varying Ignition Quality of a Fuel for a HCCI Engine Using a Photochemically-Controlled Additive: The Development of a ‘Smart’ Fuel |
| title_full_unstemmed | Varying Ignition Quality of a Fuel for a HCCI Engine Using a Photochemically-Controlled Additive: The Development of a ‘Smart’ Fuel |
| title_short | Varying Ignition Quality of a Fuel for a HCCI Engine Using a Photochemically-Controlled Additive: The Development of a ‘Smart’ Fuel |
| title_sort | varying ignition quality of a fuel for a hcci engine using a photochemically controlled additive the development of a smart fuel |
| topic | HCCI ignition photo-chemical fuel additive 1,3-cyclohexadiene 1,3,5-hexatriene |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/5/1470 |
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