AdBlue port injection for dual-fuel compression-ignition engine knock suppression

Abstract

Dual-fuel, diesel–LPG (LPG being Liquified Petroleum Gas, e.g., propane) compression ignition engines reduce CO2 and particulate emissions compared to diesel-only operation but are prone to knock at high load due to charge homogeneity and increased ignition delay. AdBlue port injection (API) was evaluated as a combustion stabilisation strategy for a diesel–LPG engine and compared with water port injection (WPI). Experiments were performed on a 2.0 L diesel–LPG engine operated at 2000 RPM, BMEP ≈ 9 bar, λ ≈ 1.27 and LPG substitution of 72%. Knock intensity was quantified using knock-induced signal energy (KISE) derived from the oscillatory component of the in-cylinder pressure over a knock-sensitive crank angle window. Characterisation of combustion was done through HRR analyses, MFB analyses and FFT-based frequency characterisation. Baseline operation exhibited severe knock with a peak HRR ≈ 200 J/◦CA and mean KISE of 307.2 bar2. WPI at a water mass ratio WMR of 130% reduced the peak HRR by 56% and mean KISE by 88%, but decreased the peak pressure, BMEP and BTE. API at an AdBlue mass ratio AMR of 130% reduced the peak HRR by 37% and KISE by 82.6% while maintaining BMEP and BTE within baseline variability. Both strategies attenuated the dominant ~19.8 kHz (1,2) mode. NOx emissions decreased with WPI but increased at a high AMR.