Comparison of Different Boosting Strategies for Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition Engines - A Modeling Study

Boosted Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI) has been modeled and has demonstrated the potential to extend the engine's upper load limit. A commercially available engine simulation software (GT-Power (R)) coupled to the University of Michigan HCCI combustion and heat transfer correlations was used to model a 4-cylinder boosted HCCI engine with three different boosting configurations: turbocharging, supercharging and series turbocharging. The scope of this study is to identify the best boosting approach in order to extend the HCCI engine's operating range. The results of this study are consistent with the literature: Boosting helps increase the HCCI upper load limit, but matching of turbochargers is a problem. In addition, the low exhaust gas enthalpy resulting from HCCI combustion leads to high pressures in the exhaust manifold increasing pumping work. The series turbocharging strategy appears to provide the largest load range extension. Single turbocharging is the most efficient but is limited by increased mass flow rates at increased engine speeds. Supercharging helps avoid the backpressure problem but the mechanical work of the supercharger reduces useful work affecting overall brake efficiency.