Senthil Krishnan Mahendar

This project aims to provide insight on the requirements of the gas exchange system architecture while using renewable fuels in heavy duty spark ignition combustion. Spark ignition (SI) engines operating on stoichiometric air fuel ratios have an advantage of using a simple three-way catalyst as after-treatment system. This makes SI engines attractive for low cost and low noise engines in niche applications. The limiting factor for HD SI engines is that power density is restricted by knock. To improve power density, high octane renewable fuels such as ethanol and methanol could be used. Further, higher turbulence and dilution could be utilized in combination with high octane fuels to increase load and efficiency. 

Experiments in HD single cylinder engines would be conducted to obtain the performance of this system. Based on the derived boundary conditions, gas exchange system architecture for such engines would be proposed.