Report on the meeting of an ISAB (Internat’l Scientific Advisory Board) Member
BIANCA Maria Vaglieco-Istituto Motori-CNR
Centre of Competence Combustion Processes
September 6-7th, 2011- LUND
I have been at the Centre of Competence Combustion Processes (KCFP) on 6-7th September 2011
and attended the presentation of all the activities. It is always a great pleasure to attend at the
meeting for the presence of the academia, the industry people and the students together with the
members of international advisory board for the intensive discussions during the presentations and
the break time.
The meeting has been very productive. KCFP has achieved outstanding results from enormous
research efforts.
The progress of each project was relevant and the presentations have been enhanced compared to
2010, even if some students are changed.
The main objective of this centre is to improve in internal combustion engines the combustion
processes and to reduce the formation of NOx and PM (soot) by the knowledge of the complex
thermo-fluid dynamic phenomena involved, the control of processes and advanced diagnostics
based on numerical and optical diagnostics.
Three main projects can be identified: partially premixed combustion for light and heavy engine,
generic diesel combustion and highly dilute spark ignition gas engine.
A large part of the work has been devoted to Partially Premixed Combustion. The activity carried
out in Lund Lab is a combustion process between Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition and
the classical diffusion controlled diesel combustion. This combustion process allows to moderating
the charge
This center is the best for its research activities and education in Europe in the sectors of propulsion
for light and heavy duty engines. Its advanced research is clearly distinguished among three
competence research and development centers in Sweden related to internal combustion engines:
CERC-Chalmers, CCGeX-KTH and KCFP-Lund. The center shows an outstanding consistency of
activities performed with the project objectives.
Scientific results obtained have allowed the realization and the implementation of advanced
scientific methods of new scientific instruments and advanced devices. The methods implemented
have been refined in order to raise the level of innovation recognized in the project evaluation stage
and affect the quality of science developed. In terms of the products, the dissertations, articles,
papers and patents are carried out. In particular, the results of the research activities carried out are
well reported in international journals and presented at international conferences.
The centre promotes excellent opportunities for interactions with Research Organizations,
Universities and Industries in the USA, in Europe and in Japan. The collaborations are continuous
with other research centers in the world and the presence of wide and stable network partnerships
with domestic and international industry such as Scania, Volvo and Toyota and Chevron is
recognized.
The KCFP leader Professor Bengt Johansson has long-term objective and a good capability in the
organization. He is able to provide motivation to his co-workers, junior researchers and technicians,
who collaborate with strong commitment Towards High Efficiency of engine in terms of high level
of research and technology development. The research topics of center must be considered an
outstanding objective to short and long term both for engine manufactures and small and large
enterprises of engine components and material producers.
Detailed comments on each project, based on the presentation in KCFP 2011
Meeting on 6-7th, September 2011
All presentations were comprehensible and reported well the progresses, contribution and ideas of
each research activity.
1. KCFP introduction
Director, Bengt Johansson
The history and background of KCFP that has carried out to PPC and THE concept was described.
The leadership of this centre in the field of innovative combustion processes is widely reported.
The research activity that carried out from HCCI to PPC in the two decades (1990-2010) is point
out with detailed data. The roadmaps of engine manufactures for LD and HD engines.
The projects are well focused by gasoline PPC such as THE Combustion, THE Cycle, THE Gas
Exchange et etc. The concurrent systems (Diesel and SI) and theme of PPC can be the good
combination for fuel efficiency improvement.
The three main areas and the six subprojects (Diesel: Gendies, SI:Gas engine, PPC: Optical
diagnostics, Fuel effects, Model and Control) allow to executing THE concept, thanks to the
potential Lund personnel (professors, researchers and PhD students) and cooperation with industry
staff.
THE concept of phase 6 is the core business of KCFP leadership. It is well organized by Prof. B.
Johansson his capability is worldwide recognized by industry organization and specialists of
relevant laboratories such as Sandia and university of Wisconsin (USA).
The activities carried out and the results reached in Phase 6 (2010-2013) allow believing that THE
theme is reasonable and promising. In order to reach this objective is necessary a continuous
cooperation with engine industries for constant and innovative hardware. This could allow to
reaching more of 57% indicated efficiency at maximum for gasoline engine both single and multicylinder engine of Scania and Volvo. This result is good agreement with engine producer roadmaps.
2. PPC-Light Duty
2.1 Gasoline PPC Combustion Chamber Comparison at Low Load Operating Conditions with
Negative Valve Overlap
Patrick Borgqvist
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The work of this PHD student is wide and interesting and of high level.
He uses the fully variable actuators (VVA) that allows a wide investigation on gasoline PPC
at negative valve overlap (NVO) timing with unique the piston top benchmarking Toyota
made by Lund research group.
The aim is to improve the stability at low load and to operate at very low load with very
high gasoline octane number.
The interest of low load condition of 800 rpm-2 bar IMEP is good start point for the study
on cold start and idle condition for LD engine. The extension to the low load side in terms of
its stable operation for various fuels must be considered. The choice of injection pressure in
order to reach lowest HC and COVimep and intake/exhaust conditions should be identified
for best database accumulation, which will serve for final optimization and mapping strategy
in PPC-LD.
2.2 Effects of glow plug and NVO-pilot with high octane gasoline at low load
Hjalmar Arvidson:
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The PPC was tested to run at low MEP condition with high octane fuels. The effects of glow
plug (with/without) and of NVO-main/pilot injection ratio is a relevant research. The glow
lug must consider as a good improvement because it increases stability at low load, the
effects have not a linear trend. In particular, minor effect is observed at 3.5 bar on
meanwhile it is bigger at 2.5 bar. Moreover, shorter ignition delay results in higher NOx,
soot, but lower HC and CO.
The engine condition of 4.5 bar BMEP was previously reported (sept. 2010). A comparison
could be interesting.
The crevice trap of charge and the in-cylinder wall wetting to investigate the combustion
process of gasoline PPC at NVO condition must be evaluated. The use of optical diagnostics
can be considered.
The results reported on pressure measurements give some problems. Next presentation must
report some comments.
The choice of injection strategy at different IMEP (in glow plug experiment) is not clarify.
2.3 Effects of NVO using different high octane fuels at low load
Olivian Marku:
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The data reported give interesting results on soot reduction, even if HC/CO remains high.
This will require the use of an efficient after-treatment device. The market after-treatment
devices could not work well in time.
2.4 PPC LD future plans
Patrick Borgqvist:
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The comparison between real (single cylinder) and optical engine is considered in order to
evaluate better PPC combustion processes.
Several engine parameters investigation to complete the database of gasoline PPC and
correlate with numerical code data.
3. Partially Premixed Combustion, PPC in Heavy duty engine, PPC-HD
3.1 Update and preparations for the next campaign
Mengqin Shen
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No relevant results: the student has started recently.
The approach and planning could allow good results for the experiment.
It could better to be connected with the earlier activity presented september 2010.
3.2 Diesel-PPC engine: Predictive full cycle modeling with reduced and detailed chemistry
Martin Tunér
There is a transition of student.
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Set-up of a predictive model was presented.
1-D SRM PPC model was based on the GT-Power and DARS-ESM combination.
It is relevant to predict PPC-HD diesel experiment. The problem remains the choice of fuel
between n-heptane and n-decane, because each fuel contributes to reach not completely the
best results. This occurs for everyone simulates the diesel fuel.
Good agreements on mass flows, HR, efficiencies and gaseous emissions. The soot needs
more work yet.
4. PPC–Optical Diagnostics
4.1 Spray penetration: the first application of the new high-speed imaging system
Rikard Wellander
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The use of kHz laser imaging technique applied to Volvo D5 with quartz liner with metal
piston allows a better investigation of injection strategies for different fuels.
The results are a good start.
This technique can allow more results on engine cycle dispersion.
4.2 Introduction of optical engines
Director: Bengt Johansson
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The KCFP optical engines are shown, the different capability allows to being the distinctive
center to cover the most range of experiments, from innovative (optical) to conventional
measurements.
5. Partially Premixed Combustion modeling, PPC-model
5.1 CFD modeling of PPC using Large Eddy Simulation (LES)
Rickard Solsjö, Mehdi Jangi, Xue-Song Bai
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Good achievements are reported. The LPT/LES modeling allows good results in fuel
injection with CCM in ignition chemistry and enabled faster calculation at faster speed (1/4).
The comparison between in-house code and Open FOAM is process very valuable
information for simulation people all over the world.
It will be assured next year on its wide applicability for complex conditions
5.2 Development of chemistry coordinate mapping (CCM) approach for combustion modeling
with finite rate chemistry
Mehdi Jangi, Xue-Song Bai
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DNS-CCM and full DNS calculation reach the same results at faster speed (1/4).
RANS-CCM also showed unbelievable achievement.
This is a revelant activity and it is strategic for the center. More efforts are necessary in order to have
more results for next year.
6. Partially Premixed Combustion, PPC – Fuel Aspects, PPC-Fuel
6.1 Low load performance of gasoline fuels in comparison with diesel
Hadeel Solaka
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Multi-parameter study on gasoline vs. diesel PPC in Volvo D5 was made. .
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Fuels effect on combustion process and pollutants emissions were investigated widely
Many data are necessary to realize the efficient database on fuel requirements in PPC engine
operating conditions. The future work is promising. A relation with results reported in sept.2010
must be made.
7. Partially Premixed Combustion, PPC – Combustion Control, PPC-Control
7.1 Automatic calibration of diesel PPC model
Anders Widd
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Models are uncomplicated and the simplification seems work well. More tests are necessary for next
presentation.
It is useful for controlling combustion phasing and suppressing effects of changes in load, engine
speed, etc.
It can allow a simple and perfect engine control because it is very fast computation time on a
standard desktop PC.
7.2 Collaboration with ACCM, Linz, in the field of combustion control
Per Tunestål
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The description of this collaboration with ACCM concerns on diesel PPC of KCFP, which can allow
useful results. In particular, the knowledge gained from ACCM diesel PPC activities will be valuable
also to the gasoline activities.
8. Gas engine project
8.1 Prechamber spark plug (PCSP)-Initial tests
Ashish Shah
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PC SP test are carried out in a Volvo MPI 6-cyl. engine. It contributes to the advance of
combustion and the increase the lean operation limit.
More diagnostics could improve to understand the contradictory results about high NOx at
low combustion efficiency, higher HC with lower fuel consumption.
These results can be useful for other fuels too.
Martin Turner -Swedish Energy Agency Report
 Studies on small scale gasification for gas engine CHP biofuels are reported. This can be
considered a future interesting topic.
9. Generic Diesel Engine project, GenDies
9-1. Is the quasi-steady jet a useful picture for understanding soot emissions from diesel
engines?
Öivind Andersson
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A detailed analysis is carried out with an accurate experiment during premixed- quasi-steady
- and late - phases.
Combination of measurements on equivalence ratio and soot provides valuable information
on the mechanism at different mixing and combustion phases.
Next results could contribute to better knowledge on soot formation process.
9.2 Influence of jet-jet interactions on the lift-off length in an optical diesel engine
Clement Chartier
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An accurate activity is reported on the relationship between lift-off length and inter-jet
angle, injection pressure and gas temperatures. It is broadly studied by soot and OH
measurements.
A better interpretation of measurements could complete and will give more physical
insights.
9.3 Investigating the mixing in wall-jets using Structured Laser Illumination Planar Imaging
(SLIPI) Investigation of Air Entrainment in Wall-Jets using SLIPI (Ongoing activity)
Clement Chartier and Elias Kristensson
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Preliminary results on SLIPI LIF that allow handy in-cylinder measurements
A refined specification on temporal and spatial resolutions is necessary
10.Towards Diesel Engine with 60% Fuel Efficiency, D60
10.1 D60 status (No assessment)
Martin Tunér
 This project is an attraction of Lund efforts in the future engine development even if it is not
a KCFP dedicated project. It is not funded by Swedish Energy Agency.
 Its results and those of the other KCFP projects are beneficial for both sides.
10.2 Heat transfer modeling
Helgi Fridriksson
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Preliminary results are reported for new heat transfer model.
10.3 Wall temperature measurements
Martin Algotsson and Christoph Knappe
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Difficult experiment, good results a new advanced diagnostic.
Simple model on heat transfer in optical engine was also adopted together.
10.4. Measurements of hydrogen peroxide (HCO) concentrations in an HCCI engine using
photofragmentation laser-induced fluorescence
Malin Johnsson and Bo Li
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Preliminary correlation between 2D HCO measurements obtained by optical measurements
using PRF50 fuel and modeling results.
10.5. PPC-HD full cycle kinetics modeling
Martin Tunér
 Start up of new activity for full cycle kinetics modeling reported in 3.2.
Other comments and conclusions
The organization and harmony of KCFP is valuable in terms of research activities, continuous
collaborations between the subjects and international research centers and industries. Moreover,
further developments are expected in coming years for control, model and advanced diagnostics.
More activities on modeling are necessary. The results could improve the knowledge on
fundamental processes and complete the capability of center. The advanced optical diagnostic must
be more related to engine results considering the different features of optical engines.
The request of innovative hardware in terms of spark plug and injection systems and some aftertreatment devices must be considered for further improvements of LD engines.
KCFP is and will remain the leader in the research in the world on futuristic combustion concept
(HCCI-PPC) and D60 or so-called THE.
Their idea and capability, the accuracy and systematic approach allowed to reaching the declared
objectives overcoming those of other group in the world where the presence of engine manufactures
is widely.
The center maintains an extremely high level of research productivity. The subjects of its papers
demonstrate the broad research interests. Most importantly, a number of these papers have had a
significant impact on other research group.
Further progresses can expect which will contribute to improvements in the field of research and
development of Swedish small and large enterprises not only on engine field but materials and
components.
The limitation of the budget will cut some PhD students, this is an impoverish that can be accept
considering the valuable results of the centre.