NUMERICAL STUDY OF DIRECT INJECTION SPRAY BEHAVIOR OF GASOLINE AND METHANOL-GASOLINE BLENDS UNDER SPLIT-INJECTION STRATEGY IN ENGINE-LIKE CONDITIONS

Abstract

Several studies have shown that the split-injection strategy has improved the shortcomings of the high particulate matter emissions and cycle-to-cycle variations in homogeneous and stratified combustion modes of gasoline direct injection (GDI) engines. However, the spray behavior under the split injection strategy is poorly understood. This study uses computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations in Converge software to investigate the spray characteristics of gasoline and methanol-gasoline blends under a split-injection strategy. The simulation studies were performed for a multihole GDI injector in a constant volume spray chamber, replicating the ambient conditions similar to a GDI engine's homogeneous and stratified combustion modes. Appropriate models for simulating different spray phenomena, such as spray breakup, collision, and coalescence, were used. The CFD model was validated using the experimental spray penetration length provided in the engine combustion network database. The results showed that the split-injection reduced the Sauter mean diameter (SMD) of fuel spray droplets and liquid fuel mass content than a single injection case. The dwell time of 2 ms was found suitable for homogeneous mode conditions, while its effect was insignificant in stratified mode conditions. Further, a split ratio of 80:20 resulted in smaller SMD during the injection period and a higher fuel evaporation rate. The effect of methanol addition was also explored under the split-injection mode. M85 showed higher deviations in the liquid spray penetration, SMD, and liquid spray mass content than G100.