Ozone-Assisted Combustion: Experimental Assessment of the Influence of Ozone in a Single-Cylinder Diesel Engine 2015-01-0787

Recently, ozone addition has come under scrutiny as a means of controlling ignition timing for Low Temperature (LTC) combustion, which defeats the NO_x-PM tradeoff using a highly dilute, homogeneous mixture. This is because ozone decomposes into atomic oxygen and hydroxyl radicals that influence the early phases of the ignition delay process. In order to understand ozone's influence on combustion better, this work analyzes the effects of ozone-assisted combustion for a single-cylinder, direct-injection Compression Ignition engine via a mechanical pump-line-nozzle fuel system and an electronically controlled common-rail fuel injection system. Experimental outcomes indicate a relatively small influence of ozone for the mechanical injection system with a comparably decreased effect for the common rail system. Overall, the addition of ozone leads to a decrease in ignition delay and augmented production of nitrogen oxides at low loads; however, conclusions cannot be made concerning particulate matter, hydrocarbons, and carbon monoxide emissions. Finally, no changes within experimental accuracy for brake-specific fuel consumption were seen.