A Review of Gasoline Compression Ignition: A Promising Technology Potentially Fueled with Mixtures of Gasoline and Biodiesel to Meet Future Engine Efficiency and Emission Targets

Abstract

Efforts have been made to develop efficient and alternative powertrains for internal combustion engines including combustion at low-temperature (LTC) concepts. LTC has been widely studied as a novel combustion mode that offers the possibility to minimize both nitrogen oxide (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) via enhanced air-fuel mixing and intake charge dilution, resulting in lower peak combustion temperatures. Gasoline compression ignition (GCI) is a new ignition method related to the extensive classification of combustion at low-temperature approaches. In this method of ignition, a fuel with high evaporation characteristics and low autoignition sensitivity, for instance gasoline, is burned in a high pressure process. Despite many research efforts, there are still many challenges related with GCI performance for compression ignition (CI) engines. Unstable combustion for idle- to low-load operation was observed because of the low reactivity characteristics of gasoline, and this will affect the efficiency and emissions of the engine. This paper contributes a detailed review of several topics associated with GCI engines and the effort to improve its efficiency and emissions, including its potential when using gasoline-biodiesel blends. Some recommendations are proposed to encourage GCI engines improvement and development in the near future.