Impact of injection settings on gaseous emissions and particle size distribution in the dual-mode dual-fuel concept

Abstract

Reactivity controlled compression ignition concept has been highlighted among the low temperature combustion strategies. However, this combustion strategy presents some problems related to high levels of hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions at low load and high-pressure rise rate at high load. Therefore, to diminish these limitations, the dual-mode dual-fuel concept has been presented as an excellent alternative. This concept uses two fuels of different reactivity and switches from a dual-fuel fully premixed strategy (based on the reactivity controlled compression ignition concept) during low load to a diffusive nature during high load operation. However, the success of dual-mode dual-fuel concept depends to a large extent on the low reactivity/high reactivity fuel ratio and the injection settings. In this study, parametric variations of injection pressure and injection timing were experimentally performed to analyze the effect over each combustion process that encompasses the dual-mode dual-fuel concept and its consequent impact on gaseous and particles emissions, including an analysis of particle size distribution. The experimental results confirm how the use of an adequate injection strategy is indispensable to obtain low exhaust emission and a balance between the different pollutants. In the fully premixed reactivity controlled compression ignition strategy, the particles concentrations were dominated by nucleation mode; however, the increase in injection pressure and the advance of the diesel main injection timing provided a simultaneous reduction of nitrogen oxide and solid particles (accumulation mode). During the highly premixed reactivity controlled compression ignition strategy, the accumulation-mode particles increased, and their concentrations were higher when the diesel main injection timing advanced and injection pressure decreased, as well as there was a slight increase in nitrogen oxide emissions. Finally, in the dual-fuel diffusion strategy, the concentrations of accumulation-mode particles were higher and there was a considerable increase of these particles with the advance of the diesel main injection timing and the reduction of the injection pressure, while the nitrogen oxide emissions decreased.