The simulation based on CHEMKIN for homogeneous charge compression ignition combustion with on-board fuel reformation in the chamber

In order to control the combustion phase precisely and remarkably extend the operation range of Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI) engine, a method of on-board controllable phase fuel reformation in the reforming chamber is proposed in this paper. HCCI combustion is dominated by chemical kinetics, and H2, OH, H and O are the key radicals and play an important role in controlling HCCI combustion. The attempt of the proposed method is to try to change the control of chemical kinetics into a manipulation of fuel reforming system. The system includes an independent reformation chamber with an injector and a controllable valve that connects reformation chamber and the main chamber. The reforming fuel is reformed into H2-rich gas. The reformed gas enters the cylinder to change the combustion phasing at compression stroke. The model of HCCI with reforming process is built with CHEMKIN 4.1 software, and HCCI process with on-board reformation is simulated. The results show that the components of the reformed gas are influenced by initial temperature and reforming mixture concentration. The maximum fraction of H2 may be obtained by optimizing the trap timing and reforming mixture concentration (optimal value: ΦT = 31 °CA, λ3 = 0.4). The optimized reformed gas does have the ability to change the combustion phasing of HCCI engine. With the help of the on-board controllable phase fuel reformation system, HCCI combustion process can be precisely controlled, and the HCCI engine is allowed to operate under lower intake temperature and higher speed condition, and to keep high IMEP and indicated thermal efficiency.

► We propose and model an HCCI combustion control strategy, on-board controllable phase fuel reformation.
► The maximum H2 fraction in the reformed gas is achieved at the optimized reformation mixture concentration and trap timing.
► Onset of HCCI combustion is controlled by adjusting the reformation intake timing.
► The fuel reformation has the ability to extend the operation range of the HCCI engine.