Advances in Efficiency and Emission Control in Internal Combustion Engines

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Energy Science and Technology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 January 2022) | Viewed by 6569

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
CMT-Motores Térmicos, Universitat Politécnica de València, Valencia, Spain
Interests: internal combustion engines; fuel injection and combustion; exhaust gas recirculation; optical diagnostics
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In an effort to reduce the impact of powertrain systems on the environment, a significant reduction of CO2 emissions is targeted for the upcoming years (15% by 2025 and 37.5% by 2030). In this sense, an increase of electric vehicle sales is currently expected, especially in the case of hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) including a gasoline engine. However, it is well-known that current gasoline engines can generate up to 20% higher CO2 emissions compared to an equivalent diesel engine for light-duty vehicle applications. For this reason, different technologies are being developed to mitigate CO2 emissions in gasoline engines. However, many of these concepts can induce additional challenges in terms of other pollutant emissions, which also have to meet very stringent regulations. For example, fuel enrichment at high loads (typical of highly turbocharged engines) as well as lean combustion typically lead to a significant increase of unburned hydrocarbons (UHC) and CO emissions. Additionally, lean combustion would need a complete rework of exhaust aftertreatment systems in gasoline engines. New concepts for compression and spark ignition engines are arising, affecting the matching with the exhaust aftertreatment systems, which in turn are experiencing a constant evolution. Additionally, the integration of the internal combustion engine into the hybrid electric vehicle places stress on the operation of the catalytic converters, which have to deal with the emissions abatement.

This Special Issue encourages works from both industry and academia focused on the analysis of new solutions devoted to improving the efficiency of internal combustion engines as well as emission control technologies. These include (but are not limited to):

  • Impact of advanced combustion concepts;
  • Alternative fuels;
  • Technologies to avoid fuel enrichment at high loads for turbocharged engines;
  • Spray development and wall-wetting in early-injection conditions;
  • Formation and characterization of exhaust emissions;
  • Fuel composition effects on exhaust emissions;
  • Emissions in engine cold-start operation;
  • Exhaust gas recirculation techniques;
  • Characterization and modelling of exhaust aftertreatment systems;
  • Development of control strategies for hybrid powertrains;
  • Studies about hybrid powertrain emissions in driving cycles.
  • Impact of altitude and ambient temperature on engine performance and emissions;
  • OBD and control strategies;
  • Thermal management;
  • Development of control strategies for hybrid powertrains;
  • Studies about hybrid powertrain emissions in driving cycles.

Dr. Pedro Piqueras
Dr. Joaquin de la Morena
Guest Editors

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 5181 KiB  
Article
Experimental Characterization of Real Driving Cycles in a Light-Duty Diesel Engine under Different Dynamic Conditions
by José Manuel Luján, Pedro Piqueras, Joaquín de la Morena and Fernando Redondo
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(5), 2472; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12052472 - 26 Feb 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1603
Abstract
This paper studies the behavior of a Euro 6 diesel engine tested under dynamic conditions corresponding to different real driving emissions (RDE) scenarios. RDE cycles have been performed in an engine test bench by simulating its operation in a long van application. A [...] Read more.
This paper studies the behavior of a Euro 6 diesel engine tested under dynamic conditions corresponding to different real driving emissions (RDE) scenarios. RDE cycles have been performed in an engine test bench by simulating its operation in a long van application. A computer tool has been designed to define the cycle accounting for different dynamic characteristics and driver behaviors to study their influence on CO2 and pollutant emissions, particularly CO, THC, and NOX. Different dynamic parameters have been established in terms of power, torque, engine speed, or vehicle speed. Additionally, a tool to estimate the emission of an RDE cycle from steady-state maps has been developed, helping to identify emission trends in a clearer way. Finally, the conclusions suggest that driving patterns characterized by lower engine speeds lead to fewer emissions. In addition, the analysis of RDE cycles from stationary maps helps to estimate the final tailpipe emissions of CO2 and NOX, offering the possibility to rely on tests carried out on engine test bench, dynamometer, or on the road. Full article
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15 pages, 36100 KiB  
Article
Compressor Surge Mitigation in Turbocharged Spark-Ignition Engines without an Anti-Surge Control System during Load-Decrease Operation
by José Galindo, Héctor Climent, Joaquín de la Morena, David González-Domínguez, Stéphane Guilain and Thomas Besançon
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(3), 1751; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12031751 - 08 Feb 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2105
Abstract
Automotive manufacturers are showing an increasing preference for hybrid powertrains based on advanced gasoline engines. The most extended solution to improve fuel economy in these engines consists in downsizing with direct injection, while turbocharging is required to compensate the consequent power loss. However, [...] Read more.
Automotive manufacturers are showing an increasing preference for hybrid powertrains based on advanced gasoline engines. The most extended solution to improve fuel economy in these engines consists in downsizing with direct injection, while turbocharging is required to compensate the consequent power loss. However, turbocharging is associated with different issues, such as compressor surge. It can appear during fast throttle closings (tip-outs), when the engine air flow is abruptly reduced. A usual strategy to manage this kind of maneuver is the installation of an anti-surge valve (ASV) that connects the compressor inlet and outlet when approaching the surge limit. In pursuit of cost reduction, the removal of the ASV system was assessed in this research. To this end, tip-outs without ASV were tested in a turbocharged gasoline engine equipped with a low-pressure EGR loop, and two strategies were analyzed: throttle closure optimization and reduction of the compressor inlet pressure through the intake flap (located upstream of the compressor to increase the EGR rate). The instantaneous compressor outlet pressure and its time derivative were used for surge detection. Experimental tip-outs without ASV revealed that applying a certain intake flap closing combined with an optimized throttle actuation led to a fast torque decrease, similar to that observed for the reference case with ASV, without compressor instabilities. Full article
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21 pages, 2446 KiB  
Article
Analysis of the Driving Altitude and Ambient Temperature Impact on the Conversion Efficiency of Oxidation Catalysts
by José Ramón Serrano, Pedro Piqueras, Enrique José Sanchis and Bárbara Diesel
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(3), 1283; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11031283 - 30 Jan 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2082
Abstract
Worldwide emission standards are extending their requirements to cover engine operation under extreme ambient conditions and fill the gap between the type-approval and real driving conditions. The new ambient boundaries affect the engine performance and raw emissions as well as the efficiency of [...] Read more.
Worldwide emission standards are extending their requirements to cover engine operation under extreme ambient conditions and fill the gap between the type-approval and real driving conditions. The new ambient boundaries affect the engine performance and raw emissions as well as the efficiency of the exhaust aftertreatment systems. This study evaluates the impact of high altitude and low ambient temperature on the light-off temperature and conversion efficiency of an oxidation catalyst. The results are compared in a common range of exhaust mass flow and temperature with the baseline sea-level operation at 20 °C. A reduction of CO and HC conversion efficiencies was found at 2500 m and −7 °C, with a relevant increase of the light-off temperature for both of the pollutants. The analysis of the experimental data was complemented with the use of a catalyst model to identify the causes leading to the deterioration of the CO and HC light-off. The use of the model allowed for identifying, for the same exhaust mass flow and temperature, the contributions to the variation of conversion efficiency caused by the change in engine-out emissions and tailpipe pressure, which are, in turn, manifested in the variation of the reactants partial pressure and dwell time as governing parameters. Full article
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