Authors:   Y. Huang, C. J. Sung, and J. A. Eng

Direct link to the paper:   http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.combustflame.2003.10.011

Abstract:

The role of a spark discharge in extending the operating limits of homogeneous change compression ignition (HCCI) combustion has been investigated using engine experiments and computational flame modeling. The flammability limits of ultra-dilute n-butane/airmixtures are calculated over ranges of temperature, pressure, and dilution levels relevant to HCCI operation. The results suggest that with the elevated temperatures required to achieve HCCIcombustion the in-cylinder charge is capable of supporting a propagating flame over most of the HCCI operating regime. However, under light-load and idle conditions the dilution levels are too large and the spark has no effect on HCCIcombustion. Thus, some other mechanism must be found to control combustion phasing under these conditions. Since the true eigenvalue for the flame propagation calculation is the mass burning rate and not the flame speed, these results demonstrate that using an arbitrary flame speed cut-off criteria for determining the dilutionlimit significantly underestimates the actual flammability ranges.

Citation:   Y. Huang, C. J. Sung, and J. A. Eng, “Dilution Limits of n-Butane/Air Mixtures at Conditions Relevant to HCCI Combustion,” Combustion and Flame 136, 457-466 (2004).