Comparison of Ultra-High Rail Pressures and Postinjections for Soot Reduction With Massive Exhaust Gas Recirculation

In this study, the application of ultra-high fuel injection pressure (up to 300 MPa) is compared with that of a post injection strategy for the reduction of soot at medium load conditions with exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) rates greater than 40%. Emissions were predominantly studied at the engine's maximum brake torque speed of 1600 rpm. A 4.5-L, four-cylinder diesel engine with series turbochargers and a high-pressure EGR loop was used for all tests. Results indicate that, ultra-high injection pressures may not have large effects on hydrocarbons (HC) or CO emissions. Small soot reductions were achieved at the expense of increased NO_x emissions. Post injections resulted in larger soot reductions for a small increase in NO_x while allowing lower fuel pressures to be utilized. The increase in NO_x emissions with a post injection was observed to be comparatively less at increased engine speeds. For operation at high EGR, post injections were observed to be more effective at reducing soot than ultra-high injection pressures. Both injection pressure and post injections were observed to have small to negligible effects on engine fuel consumption, leaving EGR and injection timing as the primary efficiency drivers at the conditions studied.