SMALL-SCALE HCCI ENGINE OPERATION

Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI) combustion in a small-scale engine (25 cc) was experimentally examined. Historically, HCCI combustion has been studied in engines sized for passenger vehicles and trucks (approximately 500 cc and larger). HCCI combustion in large-scale engines is characterized by higher efficiency than SI and CI combustion. High rates of heat flux, due to large surface area to volume ratio and engine body material, initially prevented the small-scale engine from operating in HCCI mode. The high level of heat transfer was overcome and sustained small-scale HCCI operation was achieved with n-heptane fuel. Large-scale HCCI engines utilize ultralow equivalence ratios to achieve high efficiencies. The small-scale HCCI engine could not operate with equivalence ratios lower than 0.73. Performance characteristics including power, efficiency, and NOx emissions of the small-scale HCCI engine were poorer than when operated in SI mode. Recommendations to overcome high rates of heat flux and increase small-scale HCCI engine efficiency are presented.