Optimum Compression Ratio Variation of 4-Stroke, Direct Injection Diesel Engine for Optimum Performance

A thermodynamic model for simulation the performance of a four-stroke direct-injection (DI) diesel engine is developed. The simulation model includes detailed sub-models for fuel burning rate, combustion products, thermodynamic properties of working fluid, heat transfer, fluid flow, and both soot and NO_x formation mechanisms. To validate the model, comparisons between experimental and predicted results for different engines, operating under different conditions were conducted. Comparisons show that there is a good concurrence between measured and predicted values. An optimization analysis is conducted for seeking an optimum variation of compression ratio to achieve pre-set objective target of constant minimum brake specific fuel consumption (bsfc). The optimization analysis is performed under the constrain that the maximum pressure and temperature inside the cylinder not exceed the maximum allowable pressure and temperature of the conventional engine (constant r_c). Varying compression ratio is optimized with the previous condition. Results indicated that, at the values of r_c ranged between 16.4 and 17.8, the optimum bsfc is attained with an increase in brake power by about 3.8%, while the bsfc and soot emission are reduced by about 4.4% and 21%, respectively. In addition to an increase in NO_x, maximum pressure (p_max), and maximum temperature (T_max) by about 75%, 6% and 4.3%, respectively.