A Theoretical Study on Performance and Combustion Characteristics of HCCI Engine Operation With Diesel Surrogate Fuels: n-Heptane, Dimethyl Ether

HCCI engines have low emission and high efficiency values compared to the conventional internal combustion engines. These engines can operate on most alternative fuels such as dimethyl ether (DME), which has been tested as a possible diesel fuel for its simultaneously reduced NOx and PM emissions. HCCI combustion of both DME and n-heptane fuels display a distinct two-stage ignition reaction with the first stage taking place at fairly low temperatures and the second stage taking place at high temperatures. The second stage is responsible for the main stage of the heat release process. In this study, a single-zone, zero-dimensional, thermo-kinetic combustion model has been developed. MATLAB software is used to predict engine performance characteristics of HCCI engines using two types of diesel fuel: Dimethyl ether and N-heptane. The effects of intake temperature and pressure, fuel loading and addition of EGR gases on auto-ignition characteristics, optimum combustion phasing, and performance of the HCCI engines are considered in this study. Simultaneous effects of these variables for finding the most appropriate regime of HCCI engine operation, considering knock and misfire boundaries, are also investigated.