Progress and Recent Trends in

Homogeneous Charge
Compression
Ignition (HCCI) Engines

Visakh R
CONTENTS
 What is HCCI?
 Importance of HCCI
 Pioneering Researches in HCCI
 Challenges Faced in HCCI
 Methodologies Used in Investigation of HCCI
 Evolution In Control Strategies
 Various Control Strategies Explained
 Dual Mode Transitions
 Recent Developments
 HCCI Prototypes
 Conclusion
 Reference
What Is HCCI?
 An HCCI engine is a mix of both conventional spark-ignition and
diesel compression ignition technology.
 HCCI is characterized by the fact that the fuel and air are mixed
before combustion starts and the mixture auto-ignites as a result of
the temperature increase in the compression stroke.
 The resulting spontaneous burn produces a flameless energy
release in a large zone almost simultaneously -- very different than
the spark/gasoline burn or the compression/diesel burn.
IMPORTANCE OF HCCI
 Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI) is a promising
alternative combustion technology with high efficiency and lower
NOx and particulate matter emissions.
 It can operate using a variety of fuels -- gasoline, diesel, natural gas,
biofuels, hydrogen.
 HCCI combustion incorporates the advantages of both spark ignition
(SI) engines and compression ignition direct injection (CIDI)
engines.
 However, there are still tough challenges in the successful operation
of HCCI engines, such as controlling the combustion phasing,
extending the operating range, and high unburned hydrocarbon and
CO emissions.
 Massive research throughout the world has led to great progress in
the control of HCCI combustion. The first thing paid attention to is
that a great deal of fundamental theoretical research has been
carried out.
Pioneering Researches In HCCI
Sl.
AUTHOR Aim \ Input Output Result
No
Investigate gasoline Stable HCCI Reduction in
systems to increase combustion emissions and
Onishi et
1 al
combustion stability of between low and improved fuel
two stroke engines. high loads at CR economy
7.5:1
Spectroscopy on Species related Ignition at
HCCI combustion, to low temp auto numerous
Noguchi et
2 al
experimental work on ignition were points & no
two stroke engine found like O & discernable
HO2 radicals flamefront.
Investigate Diesel Premature Unburned HC
3 Ryan et al fueled HCCI. Used ignition and emissions high;
Port fuel injection. knocking; NOx reduced.
Evaluate the progress Present state of New strategies
Mingfa
4 and current trends research and challenges
yao et al
revealed defined
Challenges Faced by HCCI

 Difficulty in Combustion phasing control.

 High levels of Noise, UHC and CO emissions
 Operation Range
 Cold Start
 Homogeneous Mixture Preparation
Methodologies used in investigation of HCCI

 Numerical Simulation
1. Zero Dimensional single zone model
2. Quasi Dimensional multi zone model
3. One Dimensional engine cycle
4. Multi Dimensional CFD
 Optical Diagnostics
1. For In cylinder mixture formation
2. For Combustion Process
3. For Emission Process
Chemical Kinetics Model
Multi Dimensional CFD with Chemical Kinetics
Models
Optical Diagnostics For In Cylinder Mixture Formation
Optical Diagnostics For Combustion Process
Effect Of fuels, additives and fuel modifications on
HCCI chemical kinetics process
 One of the advantages of HCCI combustion is its intrinsic fuel
flexibility. HCCI combustion has little sensitivity to fuel
characteristics such as lubricity and laminar flame speed. Fuels with
any octane or cetane number can be burned, although the operating
conditions must be adjusted to accommodate different fuels, which
can impact efficiency
 HCCI combustion can be controlled and the HCCI operating range
can be extended by burning different octane number fuel at different
engine modes, i.e. burning low/high octane number fuel at low/ high
load mode respectively. There exists an optimum octane number
that achieves the highest indicated thermal efficiency at different
engine load.
 Stratification Combustion- inhomogenity is an important path to
achieve clean & high efficiency combustion in engines.
Contd…
 Ignition promoters and inhibitors are available.
 Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) into intake is the most
practical means of controlling charge temperature in an
HCCI engine.
 EGR enhances combustion, control heat release, delay
auto-ignition timing, and thus lower peak cylinder
pressure.
Evolution In Control Strategies
 The spontaneous and simultaneous combustion of
fuel-air mixture need to be controlled.
 No direct control methods possible as in SI or CI
engines.
 In Diesel HCCI, it is difficult to prepare homogeneous
mixture because of the lower volatility, higher
viscosity and lower resistance to auto ignition of
diesel fuel.
 In Gasoline HCCI, high octane rating of the fuel
means it needs high ignition temperature, which
brings the difficulty of auto-ignition by compression.
Control Methods

 Various control methods are:

 Variable compression ratio

 Exhaust Gas Recirculation

 Variable valve actuation

Control Methods Explained
 Variable compression ratio method (VCR)
 The geometric compression ratio can be changed with
a movable plunger at the top of the cylinder head.
 VCR changes in-cylinder pressure and density, which
can produce effects on auto-ignition of fuel, and by
which the in-cylinder temperature is controlled.
 Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR)
 EGR mixes with fresh air as diluter can lead to
increase of specific heat capacity in the cylinder.
Hence, Ignition delay becomes longer.
 In addition, flame temperature after ignition decrease,
which is beneficial in reducing NOx emissions.
Control Methods Explained

 Variable valve actuation (VVA)

 This method gives finer control within combustion
chamber
 Involves controlling the effective pressure ratio. It
controls the point at which the intake valve closes. If
the closure is after BDC, the effective volume and
hence compression ratio changes
Dual Mode Transitions
 Practical HCCI engines will need to switch to a
conventional SI or diesel mode at very low and
high load conditions due to dilution limits.
 Two modes:
 HCCI-DI dual mode
 HCCI-SI dual mode
Recent Developments
 EGR (Exhaust Gas Re-circulation) Can be
adopted for higher efficiencies and lower HC and
CO emissions.
 The exhaust has dual effects on HCCI
combustion.
 It dilutes the fresh charge, delaying ignition and
reducing the chemical energy and engine work.
 Reduce the CO and HC emissions
HCCI Prototypes
 General Motors has demonstrated Opel Vectra and Saturn
Aura with modified HCCI engines.
 Mercedes-Benz has developed a prototype engine called Dies
Otto, with controlled auto ignition. It was displayed in its F 700
concept car at the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show
 Volkswagen are developing two types of engine for HCCI
operation. The first, called Combined Combustion System or
CCS, is based on the VW Group 2.0-litre diesel engine but
uses homogenous intake charge rather than traditional diesel
injection. It requires the use of synthetic fuel to achieve
maximum benefit. The second is called Gasoline
Compression Ignition or GCI; it uses HCCI when cruising and
spark ignition when accelerating. Both engines have been
demonstrated in Touran prototypes, and the company expects
them to be ready for production in about 2015.
HCCI Prototypes
 In May 2008, General Motors gave Auto Express access to a
Vauxhall Insignia prototype fitted with a 2.2-litre HCCI engine,
which will be offered alongside their ecoFLEX range of small-
capacity, turbocharged petrol and diesel engines when the car
goes into production. Official figures are not yet available, but
fuel economy is expected to be in the region of 43mpg with
carbon dioxide emissions of about 150 grams per kilometer,
improving on the 37mpg and 180g/km produced by the
current 2.2-litre petrol engine. The new engine operates in
HCCI mode at low speeds or when cruising, switching to
conventional spark-ignition when the throttle is opened
Conclusion
 Four main results from pioneering investigations:
 HCCI combustion demonstrates a strong potential to improve
thermal efficiency of gasoline fuelled engines and reduce NOx
and soot emissions of diesel fuelled engines.
 Chemical kinetics has a dominating role in HCCI
 Various challenges to HCCI are to be overcome
 HCCI concept can be extended to all new engine combustion
modes achieving high efficiency and low emissions.
 Numerical Simulation has become a powerful tool in realizing
HCCI and seeking control strategies for HCCI, and has higher
flexibility and lower cost compared with engine experiments.
Contd…
 HCCI can be applied to a variety of fuels types and the choice
of fuel will have a significant impact on both engine design
and control strategies.
 Utilizing charge inhomogenity is an important path to achieve
clean and high efficiency combustion in engines. Stratification
strategy has the potential to extend HCCI operation range to
higher loads.
 Application of Optical Diagnostics has greatly accelerated
developments in many aspects of HCCI research, including
combustion processes and emissions formation.
 Essential factor needed to achieve diesel fuelled HCCI
combustion is mixture control. For gasoline fuelled HCCI, it is
by the use of large levels of residual exhaust gases.
REFERENCE
 “Progress and recent trends in homogeneous charge
compression ignition engines” Ming Yao,Zhaolei Zheng,
Haifeng Liu
 “A parametric study on the emissions from an HCCI
alternative combustion engine resulting from the auto-ignition
of primary reference fuels” Hatim Machrafi , Simeon
Cavadias, Jacques Amouroux.
 “An experimental study of HCCI-DI combustion and emissions
in a diesel engine with dual fuel” Junjun Ma, Xingcai Lü, Libin
Ji, Zhen Huang
 http://www-erd.llnl.gov/FuelsoftheFuture/pdf_files/hccirtc.pdf
 http://www.ecogeek.org/component/content/article/1631
 http://www.greencarcongress.com/2004/05/keep_an_eye_on_
.html
 wikipedia.org
THANK YOU!