Flow-Field Analysis of Isobaric Combustion Using Multiple Injectors in an Optical Accessible Diesel Engine

Isobaric combustion has shown the potential of improving engine efficiency by lowering the heat transfer losses. Previous studies have achieved isobaric combustion through multiple injections from a single central injector, controlling injection timing and duration of the injection. In this study, we employed three injectors, i.e. one centrally mounted (C) on the cylinder head and two side-injectors (S), slant-mounted on cylinder head protruding their nozzle tip near piston-bowl to achieve the isobaric combustion. This study visualized the flame development of isobaric combustion, linking flow-field details to the observed trends in engine efficiency and soot emissions. The experiments were conducted in an optically accessible single-cylinder heavy-duty diesel engine using n-heptane as fuel. Isobaric combustion, with a 50 bar peak pressure, was achieved with three different injection strategies, i.e. (C+S), (S+C), and (S+S). Bottom-view high-speed soot luminosity images were recorded at a frame rate of 20 kHz for all cases, together with pressure traces. Flame image velocimetry (FIV) analysis was performed on the high-speed soot luminosity images to obtain a qualitative description of the flow-field obtained for the three injection strategies. Distinctive vortex structures were evident from the FIV analysis and that can be attributed to strong flame-wall and flame-flame interactions. For the C+S and S+S injection strategies, the distinct large vortex structures were found near the bowl-wall while for the S+C case, vortex structures are less prominent. The large vortex structures close to the cylinder walls contribute to lower gross indicated efficiency and higher soot level intensity of the C+S and S+S cases, compared to the S+C configuration.