Effect of multi-injection strategy on characteristics of methanol-fueled direct injection spark ignition engine

Present paper numerically investigates the effect of injection strategy and start of injection (SOI) timing on in-cylinder flow, air-fuel mixing, fuel distribution near spark plug, engine performance, and exhaust emissions for highly stratified methanol-fueled, multi-injection, direct injection spark ignition engine having high compression ratio. SOI is kept constant at -23 degrees crank angle (CA) after top dead center (ATDC) with a spark timing (ST) of -2 degrees crank angle (CA) ATDC. Mass of fuel is divided into pilot and main injection ports having pilot to main fuel injection mass ratio of 1:1, 1:2, and 1:3 at 0 degrees and 2 degrees dwell times between main and pilot injections. As the quantity of fuel in main injection increases, pressure rise rate increases, which results in higher in-cylinder pressure and higher rate of burning that gives higher apparent heat release. Due to higher peak pressure rise rate and faster burning in the case of 2 degrees crank angle (CA) dwell time, shorter combustion duration is achieved compared to 0 degrees crank angle (CA) dwell time. In the case of multi-injection, faster burning rate enhanced in-cylinder temperature; therefore, nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions are higher. Pilot to main fuel mass ratio of 1:3 has resulted highest indicated thermal efficiency, lowest specific fuel consumption, lowest soot, and carbon monoxide (CO) emissions.