911254

A Study on the Variations of Combustion

Characteristics in Diesel Engine
Chang Sik Lee & Nag Jung Choi*
Hanyang University, *Korea Industrial Manpower and Management Agency
Korea

ABSTRACT

The combustion characteristics of a diesel engine Therefore the investigation of combustion variations
were examined by means of cyclic variation of in cylinder is important to the improvement of engine
combustion pressure and heat release history. In this combustion performance.
paper the gas pressure, the rate of pressure rise, heat In this point, investigation of pressure - time data
release rate and the other combustion characteristics of engine cycles is necessary to evaluate the engine
of direct injection type diesel engine are investigated output and cycle performance of combustion engine.
for the various pressure crank angle history using a Many studies on the cyclic variations of combustion
combustion analyzing apparatus. characteristics of spark ignition engine(l)*-(3), but
Statistical analysis of combustion characteristics there are scarcely such studies for diesel engine.
of diesel engine have been carried out over a various Statistical analysis on various characteristics of
range of speed, fuel injection timing, and the several combustion in compression ignition engine are
factors using a combustion data of five hundreds cycles investigated by Sawa et al.(4). In recently, Yamada
of combustion analyzer. et.al.(5) have shown that combustion variations in
The results of this investigation show that the diesel engine are reported for the ethanol heavy oil
variations of combustion characteristics does change as blended fuel.
cycle conditions are altered. The influences of cyclic Most of the previously reported work has been done
parameter and operational factors on the combustion regarding to the combustion characteristics in gasoline
characteristics of engine are discussed also. engine, however there are scarcely such studies on
diesel engine.
The aim of this investigation is to present the
INTRODUCTION
results of the effects of engine cyclic variables on
the combustion characteristics of four-stroke cycle,
The improvement of engine performance, exhaust
single cylinder diesel engine. In this investigation,
emissions and noise are closely related to the rate of
the effects of various factors on the combustion
pressure rise and the cycle varations of combustion
characteristics were measured using the combustion
characteristics.
analyzer system.
In especially, the cyclic variations of combustion
In order to determine the variations of combustion
characteristics have an effect on the engine output
characteristics in open - chamber type diesel engine,
performance, the noise and concentration of exhaust
cyclic variations of combustion characteristics were
emission of diesel engine.
analyzed the combustion pressure history of five

* Number in parantheses designate hundreds cycles by combustion analyzer.

references at the end of paper.

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 The tests were conducted on an single cylinder
EXPERIMENTAL APPARATUS AND PROCEDURE
diesel engine coupled directly to a eddy current
dynomometer. Combustion analyzer system was composed of
EXPERIMENTAL APPARATUS - An experimental apparatus is
the crank angle position detector, pressure measuring
shown Schematically in Fig.1. and the specifications of
system, dynamometer and microprocessor with graphic
test engine are shown in Table 1. The engine used is a
printer.
single cylinder four - stroke cycle diesel engine with
The test engine was controlled by a eddy-current
direct combustion chamber.
dynamometer system. Cylinder pressure history of engine
was obtained by using a Kistler type 601A transducer.
The crank angle was determined by using photo -
receiver along with a slotted disc mounted on the end
of crankshaft. The engine output performance was
measured by the control system of eddy current
dynamometer.

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE - In order to obtain the

variations of combustion characteristics of diesel
engine, the engine was investigated under the following
conditions:
Engine speed: 600,800,1000,1200 rpm
Fuel injection pressure: 20 MPa
Inlet air temperature: 15"C
Cooling water temperature: 40,50,60,70,80,90°C
Injection timing: 22° ,15° ,10° ,5° before TDC.

The cyclic variations of combustoin characteristics

in cylinder, which were represented by the gas
pressure, the rate of pressure rise at each crank
angle, were analyzed statistically under the above
operating conditions.
By using the combustion analyzer system, pressure-
crank angle data were stored in the data acquisition
system. It also saves the cycles with maximum peak
pressure, the maximum rate of pressure rise and heat
release rate.
Cyclic variations of combustion characteristics were
evaluated by pressure - time data for each cycle and
time at which it occurred. In this work, gas oil with
specific gravity 0.83 was used as a fuel.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

COMBUSTION CHARACTERISTICS - The combustion character­

istics of the engine at various cyclic conditions were
examined using cylinder pressure and heat release
analysis.

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 Fig.2 shows the relation between the cylinder In general, advancing the fuel injection timing
pressure and crank, angle for the various injection increased the instantaneous mixing of fuel - air, as
timing of fuel at 1000 rpm of engine speed. the above discussion, because of the greater amount of
fuel that evaporates during the time before the
ignition.

It can be seen that the maximum pressure of cylinder

was increased in accordance with advance of injection
timing in experimental range. Refering to Fig.2, it is
Fig. 4 shows the variations of maximum pressure and
seen that the late timing generally results in a
mean effective pressure with injection timing for 1000
reduction of cylinder pressure because of the decrease
rpm of engine speed. Advancing the fuel injection
in vaporization and mixing duration of injection fuel.
timing resulted not only in an increase in peak
Therefore the increase of injected fuel results in the
pressure, but also mean effective pressure of engine.
improvement of fuel combustion in cylinder.

Referring to Fig. 2, 3 and 4, as has already been

metioned, the late timing of fuel injection results in
the decrease of peak pressure and heat release rate of
fuel-air mixture in cylinder.
The above trends also depicted for a speed of 1000
rpm in Fig.4, which is a same results of the
premixed-burned fraction due to the variation of
injection timing by Alkidas(6).

On the other hand, the effects of timing on the

maximum rate of heat release and crank angle at peak
rate of heat release are shown in Fig.5.
Retarding the injection timing of fuel delayed the
crank angle at peak heat release in cylinder. Retarding
the timing from 22 to 5 deg before the top dead center
slightly decreased the peak value of heat release rate,
The influence of fuel injection timing on the rate
whereas crank angle at peak value delayed occurring
of pressure rise of engine is demonstrated in Fig.3.
time of maximum rate of heat release.
The rate of pressure rise shows the similar trends
of pressure - crank angle history as shown in Fig.2.

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 decreased with the reduction of injection period before
the top dead center. It will be noted that these curve
are very similar to those shown in Fig. 3.

In the above discussion, the figure of heat release

and peak pressure history have been considered in
detail. It is shown clearly in the rate of heat release
that during the first stage of burning the rate of heat
release is very high. During the ignition delay period,
part of fuel injected mixes and evaporates with
compressed air to form region of combustible fuel-air
mixture which burns very rapidly as demostrated in heat
release histories. This initial rapid burning results
in a very high rate of heat release within a short
period of combustion.

Fig.6 shows the relation between the injection

timing and combustion timing of fuel in engine
cylinder. The measured combustion duration appears to
become progressively longer when retarding injection
timing of fuel. This is attributed to lower peak
pressure and heat release levels, as well as to
decrease in mixing rate because of lower flow
velocities in cylinder gas after top dead center.

The influences of injection timing on the rate of

heat release at constant engine speed are shown in
Fig.7. In this experiment, retarding the injection
timing of fuel, the peak value of heat release rate

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 Fig. 8 shows the gas temperature of engine in the data. Retarding the injection timing resulted not only

case that the injection timing was delayed from 22° to in a decrease in peak temperature, but also a delay of

5° BTDC. As stated in the above discussion, the mass of end point of fuel burning diagram.

fuel injected increases with increasing ignition delay

period. COMBUSTION VARIATIONS - Some results of the effect of
As shown in figure of temperature history, retarding engine speed on the frequency distribution of peak
the injection timing from 22° to 15° BTDC slightly cylinder pressure at injection timing 22° before the
decreased the peak value of gas temperature, whereas a top dead center are shown in Fig.10.
further retarding of injection timing to 5° BTDC
delayed the maximum value and crank angle at peak
temperature.

The frequency of maximum pressure of cylinder with

engine speed does not appear to change significantly
within the range examined. In this diagram, (Pmax)m
on the horizontal axis means the average value of peak
pressure for stored five hundreds cycles. As shown
previously, the cyclic variations in maximum frequency
Fig. 9 shows the burning rate of fuel versus crank of peak pressure showed that engine speed has a small
angle plots change with injection timing of fuel. The effect on the peak frequency.
mass burning rate of fuel injected was found to delay
with retarding the injection timing. This means that
retarding the injection timing significantly increase
the combustion period to total mass burned.
As the timing was retarded, the burning rate of fuel
injected is delayed. In general, the rate of pressure
rise and mass burning rate of engine should increase
with the amount of fuel evaporated and mixing during
the delay duration of ignition.
With the early timing of injection, evaporation and
mixing of fuel during the delay period is promoted and
therefore the frequency of maximum rate of pressure
characteristics is increased.
The some results of the effect of injection timing
on the mass burning rate of fuel injected at constant
engine speed were slightly influence on mass burned
fraction versus crank angle plot obtained pressure time

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 The results of this work show that the variations of
To consider the influence of injection timing on the
combustion characteristics does changes as engine
maximum rate of pressure rise, Fig.11 shows the
cyclic conditions are altered. Summarizing these
frequency distribution of peak pressure and the rate of
results, the following conclusions were reached:
pressure rise for at 1000 rpm of engine speed.
1. The maximum rate of heat release decreased with the
As shown in figure, the frequency of maximum pressure
retard of injection timing, but the delay of injection
has a sharp and high peak for two kinds of engine speed
timing retarded the crank angle of peak value of heat
result in the retard of peak frequency of maximum gas
- release rate.
pressure.
2. Retarding the injection timing of fuel from 22 to 5
deg before the top dead center had significantly effect
on the crank angle at peak frequency of pressure rise
and peak pressure.
3. The variations of engine speed had little effect on
the frequency distribution for the mean value of
maximum pressure in engine.
4. The duration of combustion, defined as the crank
angle interval, increased with retarded injection
timing of fuel.
5. Mass burning rates of fuel injected were found to
delay with retarding the injection timing of fuel. This
indicated that retarding the injection timing increased
the combustion period to apparent mass burned.

REFERENCES
The effect of injection timing on the frequency of
maximum rate of pressure rise and peak pressure can be (1) Sanda,S., Toda,T. , Nohira,H. , and Konomi,T.,
seen in Fig.12. The increase in amount of fuel injected "Statistical Analysis of Pressure Indicator Data of an
before the top dead center results in an increase of Internal Combustion Engine", SAE paper 770882,1977.
combustion characteristics such as peak pressure, heat (2) Konomi, T., Toda, T., and Ishiyama, S. , "Analysis on
release rate, and maximum rate of pressure rise. Causes of Cycle-by-Cycle Variation of Combustion from
As shown in frequency distribution diagram, the Pressure Indicator Data (Report NO.2)",Trans, of JSAE,
retard injection of fuel delayed the frequency No.22, pp.3-11, 1979.
distribution of maximum characteristics of combustion. (3) Hori,S. and Sawa,N.,"Effect of EGR on Exhaust
The total combustion time is appreciably reduced with Emissions and Combustion Prosesses of a Methanol
injection advance. The rate of pressure rise should Engine", Trans of JSAE, No. 17, pp. 24-31, 1979.
increase with the amount of fuel evaporated and mixed (4) Hori, S., Sawa, N., and Uchida, S.," Cyclic
during the delay duration of ignition. Variation Characters of Combustion Pressure in Pre -
Combustion Chamber Diesel Engine",Internal Combustion
Engines, Vol. 20, No. 256, pp. 9-17,1981.

CONCLUSIONS (5) Yamada, T., Mitome,T., Chikahisa, Miyamoto. N.,

and Murayama,T.," A Study on the Combustion Variations
In order to obtain the effect of engine operating of Diesel Engine", JSME Trans (B). Vol.51, No. 463, pp.
conditions on the variations of combustion in a diesel 946-953, 1985.

engine, the cyclic variations of combustion (6) Alkidas, A.C., " On the Premixed Combustion in a
characteristics were investigated using the pressure - Direct-Injection Diesel Engine",Trans, of the ASME, Vol
crank angle history of combustion analyzer system. . 109, pp.189, April 1987.

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