The Influence of Charge Inhomogeneity on the HCCI Combustion Process

<div class="htmlview paragraph">In-cylinder crank-angle resolved imaging of fuel and OH was obtained using planar laser induced fluorescence (PLIF) in a Homogenous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI) engine. Investigations were carried out to ascertain the extent to which the combustion process in an HCCI engine is affected by the charge homogeneity. In the experiments, the heterogeneity of the charge was varied and the effect on the combustion process was monitored. The result shows a heterogeneous combustion with large spatial and temporal variations, even with a homogeneously premixed charge. It is therefore concluded that the charge inhomogeneity has a modest effect on the combustion process.</div>