Progress and recent trends in homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) engines

• Published in: Progress in energy and combustion science Vol. 35; no. 5; pp. 398 - 437
• Main Authors: Yao, Mingfa, Zheng, Zhaolei, Liu, Haifeng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Diesel-fuelled HCCI engine; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Engines and turbines; Equipments for energy generation and conversion: thermal, electrical, mechanical energy, etc; Exact sciences and technology; Gasoline-fuelled HCCI engine; Homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI); Low temperature combustion (LTC); Numerical simulation; Optical diagnostics; Low temperature combustion (LTC); Numerical simulation; Homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI); Gasoline-fuelled HCCI engine; Optical diagnostics; Diesel-fuelled HCCI engine; Nitrogen oxide; Combustion control; Costs; Homogeneous charge compression ignition; ignition (HCCI); Gasoline engine; Diesel engine; Flue gas recirculation; Combustion; Modeling; Particle emission; Homogeneous charge compression; Fuel mixture
• ISSN: 0360-1285; 1873-216X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pecs.2009.05.001

HCCI combustion has been drawing the considerable attention due to high efficiency and lower nitrogen oxide (NO x ) and particulate matter (PM) emissions. However, there are still tough challenges in the successful operation of HCCI engines, such as controlling the combustion phasing, extending the operating range, and high unburned hydrocarbon and CO emissions. Massive research throughout the world has led to great progress in the control of HCCI combustion. The first thing paid attention to is that a great deal of fundamental theoretical research has been carried out. First, numerical simulation has become a good observation and a powerful tool to investigate HCCI and to develop control strategies for HCCI because of its greater flexibility and lower cost compared with engine experiments. Five types of models applied to HCCI engine modelling are discussed in the present paper. Second, HCCI can be applied to a variety of fuel types. Combustion phasing and operation range can be controlled by the modification of fuel characteristics. Third, it has been realized that advanced control strategies of fuel/air mixture are more important than simple homogeneous charge in the process of the controlling of HCCI combustion processes. The stratification strategy has the potential to extend the HCCI operation range to higher loads, and low temperature combustion (LTC) diluted by exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) has the potential to extend the operation range to high loads; even to full loads, for diesel engines. Fourth, optical diagnostics has been applied widely to reveal in-cylinder combustion processes. In addition, the key to diesel-fuelled HCCI combustion control is mixture preparation, while EGR is the main path to achieve gasoline-fuelled HCCI combustion. Specific strategies for diesel-fuelled, gasoline-fuelled and other alternative fuelled HCCI combustion are also discussed in the present paper.