Session: 08-01: Poster Session

Paper Number: 148227

148227 - Alternative Approaches to Energy-Assisted Compression-Ignition Engine Operation 

Abstract: 

Local deposition of thermal energy has previously been shown to assist combustion of a wide range of fuel cetanes under low in-cylinder density operation. Work-to-date has primarily been focused on the use of a commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) ceramic glow plug as an ignition assistant (IA). The utilization of an IA to aid in the combustion process in compression-ignition engines has been termed, energy-assisted compression-ignition. Previous EACI work has shown promising results in its ability to assist combustion for a wide range of fuels and to achieve mixing-controlled combustion with the use of a split-injection strategy. However, an IA surface temperature of ~1300 K is required, which has been shown to limit the life of COTS ceramic glow plugs and that surface temperature is difficult achieve at engine speeds >1500 RPM. This has motivated the exploration of alternative approaches to EACI operation. The current work explores a number of alternative IA approaches for EACI including: low-temperature plasma assisted ignition, COTS spark-plug assisted ignition, and laser assisted ignition. These alternative approaches were selected due to their potential to overcome the durability and engine speed limitation of the COTS ceramic glow plugs.  Work was carried out on an optically accessible research engine where a combination of high-speed imagining techniques and in-cylinder pressure measurements were used to compare ignition and combustion characteristics for the various EACI IA approaches investigated.

Presenting Author: Jacob Stafford University of Wisconsin - Madison

Presenting Author Biography: Jacob Stafford received a B.S. from the University of Evansville in 2019. He has been attending the University of Wisconsin - Madison since 2020, working with Professor David Rothamer in the Engine Research Center. His graduate research has focused on ignition assistance approaches to aid in the operation of low cetane number fuels in compression-ignition engines.

Authors:

Jacob Stafford University of Wisconsin - Madison
Eri Amezcua University of Wisconsin - Madison
David Rothamer University of Wisconsin - Madison