PCCI Combustion for Better Emissions in Diesel Engines

Premixed charge compression ignition (PCCI) mode of combustion is one of the advanced combustion concepts under low-temperature combustion (LTC) which has been found out in resulting acceptable emission results in internal combustion engines particularly in reducing particle matter and oxides of nitrogen altogether. Various experimental, as well as simulation works, were done on IC engines on PCCI mode of combustion. Performance and emission results from these works were compared with the conventional IC engine mode of combustion, and better results were obtained. Studies also indicated that through fuel modifications for having different properties helps to get optimized load range operations and emissions under PCCI mode of operation. Tuning the EGR at different load ranges were also found very important in PCCI mode of combustion. Researchers found out the existing uncontrolled fluctuation of soot with that of oxides of nitrogen in the common diesel engine operation could be managed by PCCI, which is a low-temperature combustion strategy usually used for diesel-like fuels. PCCI mode showed results of thermal efficiencies close to diesel engines and also provides means of minimizing particle matter and oxides of nitrogen at the same time. Such findings used the conventional direct injection compression ignition engines with minor medications and low costs of operations. Various investigations also showed that further investigations should be done in making PCCI combustion more efficient for less NO_x, HC, CO and better load limit ranges through the optimized matching of EGR level, time of injection and also blends of the fuel. The review aims in describing PCCI mode of combustion and basic parameters affecting this advanced combustion concept and also to summarize the results obtained from PCCI mode of combustion as a scheme to reduce emissions.