Exhaust gas recirculation stratification to control diesel homogeneous charge compression ignition combustion

A single-cylinder diesel engine was used to investigate the potential of exhaust gas recirculation dilution stratification as a control technique for homogeneous charge compression ignition combustion with early direct injections. Experimental studies on both all-metal and optically accessible engines were performed to understand the processes involved when exhaust gas recirculation is introduced separately in the intake ports. Laser-induced fluorescence diagnostics were carried out in the optical engine in order to provide fuel and exhaust gas recirculation distributions. The results indicate that depending on the intake configuration, the exhaust gas recirculation stratification can be maintained until late timings corresponding to the combustion event, leading to decreased maxima of heat-release rates, as well as decreased combustion noise levels. This result suggests that exhaust gas recirculation stratification may be used as a control parameter for combustion speed and therefore may contribute to the extension of the homogeneous charge compression ignition operating range. However, although exhaust gas recirculation stratification appears to be an interesting new control technique for homogeneous charge compression ignition combustion, its effect on the combustion was shown to be very sensitive to parameters such as the intake system configuration or the exhaust gas recirculation composition, showing that industrial use of this control technique requires further understanding of the physical phenomena involved.