EESA Success Stories:
Dramatic Improvements in Low-Temperature Engine Combustion for Vehicles

Argonne engineers are developing an advanced vehicle combustion system that achieves high, diesel-like efficiency while producing ultra low emissions. In a dramatic breakthrough, the system uses low-cetane fuels (gasoline and naptha blends that are easier for fuel companies to produce). The configuration drastically reduces or eliminates the need for exhaust after-treatment.

The Challenge
Developing a combustion system that operates with high efficiency and practical levels of power density while drastically reducing tailpipe emissions. Part of the additional challenge is to make advanced combustion systems robust enough for use in real-world vehicles.

Argonne mechanical engineer Steve Ciatti works on the low-cetane fuel engine.

The Solution
To research fuel spray and mixture preparations, ignition chemistry, turbulence modeling and reaction chemistry modeling in order to optimize this breakthrough combustion approach.

The Results

• Robust engine operation up to 3000 RPM at 16 bar BMEP (goal is 18-20 BMEP)
• Ultra-low NOx emissions under driving cycle conditions
• Engine efficiencies of 30 to 40 percent over a range of driving cycle conditions

"The advanced combustion breakthrough provides opportunity to achieve high efficiency, high power density engines while drastically reducing pollution,” stated Steve Ciatti, a principal mechanical engineer at Argonne.

More

• Poster: Dramatic Improvements in Low-Temperature Engine Combustion for Vehicles (712 kB pdf)