Description
Automotive sector expects the implementation of modern engines, which can help to reduce fuel consumption, pollutants emission and noise. During the project, based on experience in designing of barrel engines, a prototype engine will be designed, built and comprehensively tested. Based on the results of research investigations conducted in the project, the involved partners will offer an innovative technical solution: environmentally friendly and highly efficient engine, which may be used as a range-extender for hybrid cars of the future. The prerequisite to begin the project research are promising results of Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition combustion mode achieved previously in a large (340 kW) multi-cylinder barrel engine. Special features of the engine and special design will allow investigating ultra-clean HCCI combustion. The consortium will include teams from Warsaw University of Technology and Norwegian University of Technology - leading technical universities in Poland and Norway. Complementarity of partners' knowledge and their potential allow offering a modern solution for the global automotive industry.
Summary of project results
Security of supply and climate change are high on the global energy agenda. The transport sector is no exception, as virtually every means of transport by land, air and sea uses fossil fuels and emits greenhouse gases. Energy consumption for transport purposes represents 20% of the world’s total energy consumption. Despite industry work on minimising energy consumption by combustion engines there are still shortcomings in implementation of renewable fuels use, significant rationalization of energy usage and transportation impact on natural environment. The solution to significantly decrease emissions in transportation is Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI). HCCI has the potential to combine the best of Spark Ignition (SI) and Compression Ignition (CI) engines. With its high octane number fuel, the engine operates with a high compression ratio and lean mixtures, and thus fuel consumption is reduced. Due to the premixed charge without rich or stoichiometric zones, the production of soot and NOx can be avoided. Therefore, over the last decade it is the most extensively researched mode of combustion, and is believed to be a promising technology of the future. HCCI combustion mode can lead to an increase in the engine efficiency and reduces fuel consumption as a result. The proposed project, despite investigating HCCI technology, looks at the potential of highly efficient operation in the case alternative fuels are used, especially bio-fuels. This project addresses three strategic themes: rational use of natural resources, technologies that impact limiting of greenhouse gases and aerosols, technologies of new and renewable energy sources, effective use of energy. During the project the PAMAR-4 opposed-piston barrel engine has been designed, build and tested. Engine has variable compression ratio, variable phase shift and variable valve train – these set points can be changed from cycle to cycle during engine operation. It is a two-cylinder, 1.7 dm3 100 kW engine. Combustion can run in spark ignition, compression ignition or in ultra-low emission HCCI mode. The engine can work on both liquid (gasoline, diesel, biodiesel, ethanol) and gaseous (methane, propane, butane, biogas, syngas) fuels. Maximum design peak pressure is 300 bar. Engine has a high thermal efficiency of 44%, which makes it particularly attractive for distributed energy generation while its multi-fuel ability is very interesting in military applications.
Summary of bilateral results
NTNU supported the project with valuable know-how on HCCI combustion kinetics and great experience in numerical methods of combustion processes’ modelling. Knowledge of chemical kinetic mechanism reduction for combustion modelling and emissions prediction allowed not only fast analysis of isooctane but also for gaseous fuels analysis. Access to the national High Performance Computing (HPC) Facility, NOTUR (Norwegian Metacenter for Computational Science) allowed WUT for performing complicated CFD and Structural analysis of PAMAR-4 engine. WUT was able to design, build and test a modern barrel engine with variable compression ratio, variable valve train and variable phase shift which can not only work on gasoline, but also on gaseous fuels. Project improved communication between Polish and Norwegian research The Norwegian partner was able to see the real life problems and successes in prototype exploration. The Polish had the opportunity to see the routine process of numerical modelling with the use of advanced methods offered by the NOTUR facility. Regular workshops were organized to ensure that partners can exchange their experience, methods and ways of operational work.