Research Article
BibTex RIS Cite

Experimental Analysis of Combustion and Cycle-to-Cycle Variations in a Methanol-Diesel Dual-Fuel RCCI Engine

Year 2025, Volume: 1 Issue: 2, 74 - 85, 30.12.2025

Abstract

This study experimentally investigates the combustion characteristics and cyclic variations of a methanol–diesel dual-fuel RCCI application in a four-cylinder, turbocharged diesel engine. The experiments were carried out at a constant engine speed of 1750 rpm, corresponding to the maximum torque condition, and at four different load levels (40, 60, 80, and 100 Nm). The findings indicate that the coefficients of variation increase with increasing engine load and methanol flow rate. In particular, values exceeding 10% for the coefficients of variation of the indicated mean effective pressure and maximum pressure suggest reduced combustion stability and a higher tendency for knocking. Therefore, optimization of the methanol ratio and operating conditions is necessary to ensure safe and stable engine operation. One of the key findings of the study is that the pressure rise rate increases with increasing engine load and methanol flow rate. Specifically, the value of 4.59 bar/°CA obtained with the highest methanol ratio (M21) at 100 Nm load approached the knock limit of 5 bar/°CA, which constrains the stable operating range of the engine.

References

  • Söyler, H. (2025). Boost pressure influence on combustion, emission characteristics, and performance of diesel engines with various fuel types. Journal of Energy Systems and Technology, (in press). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jestch.2025.101983
  • . Karakoç ve J. Freund, “Experimental studies on mechanical properties of cellular structures using [1] Szwaja, S., & Grab-Rogalinski, K. (2009). Hydrogen combustion in a compression ignition diesel engine. *International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 34*(10), 4413–4421.
  • Rakopoulos, C. D., Rakopoulos, D. C., Giakoumis, E. G., & Kyritsis, D. C. (2010). The combustion of n-butanol/diesel fuel blends and its cyclic variability in a direct injection diesel engine. *Journal of Power and Energy, 225*, 289–308.
  • Corsini, A., Marchegiani, A., Rispoli, F., Sciulli, F., & Venturini, P. (2015). Vegetable oils as fuels in diesel engine: Engine performance and emissions. *Energy Procedia, 81*, 942–949.
  • Yin, X., Yue, G., Liu, J., Duan, H., Duan, Q., Kou, H., Wang, Y., Yang, B., & Zeng, K. (2023). Investigation into the operating range of a dual-direct injection engine fueled with methanol and diesel. *Energy, 267*, 126625.
  • Feng, H., Chen, X., Sun, L., Ma, R., Zhang, X., Zhu, X., & Yang, C. (2023). The effect of methanol/diesel fuel blends with co-solvent on diesel engine combustion based on experiment and exergy analysis. *Energy*, Advance online publication, 128792.
  • Vargün, M., Yılmaz, İ. T., & Sayın, C. (2022). Investigation of performance, combustion, and emission characteristics in a diesel engine fueled with methanol/ethanol/n-heptane/diesel blends. *Energy, 257*, 124750.
  • Kyrtatos, P., Brückner, C., & Boulouchos, K. (2016). Cycle-to-cycle variations in diesel engines. *Applied Energy, 171*, 120–132.
  • Selim, M. Y. E. (2005). Effect of engine parameters and gaseous fuel type on the cyclic variability of dual fuel engines. *Fuel, 84*(7–8), 961–971.
  • Wang, L., Liu, J., Ji, Q., Sun, P., Li, J., Wei, M., & Liu, S. (2022). Experimental study on the high load extension of PODE/methanol RCCI combustion mode with optimized injection strategy. Fuel, 314, 122726. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2021.122726.
  • Duraisamy, G., et al. (2019). Combustion stability characteristics of advanced premixed combustion modes evaluated using the coefficient of variation of IMEP. Fuel, 252, 709–718. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2019.04.XXX.
  • Panda, K., & Ramesh, A. (2022). Parametric investigations to establish the potential of methanol based RCCI engine and comparison with the conventional dual fuel mode. Fuel, 308, 122025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2021.122025
  • Gülmez, Y. (2022). *Analysis of the effects of exhaust back pressure on engine performance and exhaust emissions in diesel engines* (Master’s thesis, Dokuz Eylül University, Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences).
  • Can, Ö. (2012). *Investigation of the effects of ethanol pre-mixed partial-HCCI application on combustion and emissions in a single-cylinder diesel engine* (Doctoral dissertation, Gazi University, Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences).
  • Vargün, M., Özsezen, A. N., Botsalı, H., & Sayın, C. (2023). A study on the impact of fuel injection parameters and boost pressure on combustion characteristics in a diesel engine using alcohol/diesel blends. *Process Safety and Environmental Protection, 177*, 29–41.
  • Kinato K., Nishiumi R., Tsukasaki Y., Tanaka T., Morinaga M. (2003) Effects of fuel properties on premixed charge compression ignition combustion in a direct injection diesel engine, Society of Automotive Engineers, SAE Papers, 2003-01-1815.
  • Yao M., Zhang B., Zheng Z., Chen Z. (2007) Experimental study on homogeneous charge compression ignition combustion with primary reference fuel, Combust. Sci. Technol. Vol.179, pp. 2539-2559.

Metanol-Dizel Çift Yakıtlı Bir RCCI Motorunda Yanma ve Çevrimsel Değişimlerin Deneysel Analizi

Year 2025, Volume: 1 Issue: 2, 74 - 85, 30.12.2025

Abstract

Bu çalışmada, dört silindirli, turboşarjlı bir dizel motorda metanol-dizel çift yakıtlı RCCI uygulamasının yanma ve çevrimsel değişimlerini deneysel olarak incelemektedir. Deneyler, motorun maksimum tork ürettiği 1750 d/d sabit devirde ve dört farklı yük seviyesinde (40, 60, 80 ve 100 Nm) gerçekleştirilmiştir. Elde edilen bulgular, motor yükü ve metanol debisi arttıkça çevrimsel değişim katsayıları yükselmektedir. Özellikle, ortalama indike basınç ve maksimum basınç çevrimsel değişim katsayılarının değerlerinin %10'un üzerine çıkması, yanma kararlılığının azaldığını ve vuruntu eğiliminin arttığını göstermektedir. Bu durum, motorun güvenli ve kararlı çalışması için metanol oranının ve işletme koşullarının optimize edilmesini zorunlu kılmaktadır. Çalışmanın önemli bulgularından biri de, motor yükü ve metanol debisindeki artışla basınç artış oranlarının yükselmesidir. Özellikle 100 Nm yükte en yüksek metanol oranı (M21) ile elde edilen 4,59 bar/° değeri, motorun kararlı çalışma bölgesini sınırlayan 5 bar/°KMA olan vuruntu sınırına yaklaşmıştır.

References

  • Söyler, H. (2025). Boost pressure influence on combustion, emission characteristics, and performance of diesel engines with various fuel types. Journal of Energy Systems and Technology, (in press). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jestch.2025.101983
  • . Karakoç ve J. Freund, “Experimental studies on mechanical properties of cellular structures using [1] Szwaja, S., & Grab-Rogalinski, K. (2009). Hydrogen combustion in a compression ignition diesel engine. *International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 34*(10), 4413–4421.
  • Rakopoulos, C. D., Rakopoulos, D. C., Giakoumis, E. G., & Kyritsis, D. C. (2010). The combustion of n-butanol/diesel fuel blends and its cyclic variability in a direct injection diesel engine. *Journal of Power and Energy, 225*, 289–308.
  • Corsini, A., Marchegiani, A., Rispoli, F., Sciulli, F., & Venturini, P. (2015). Vegetable oils as fuels in diesel engine: Engine performance and emissions. *Energy Procedia, 81*, 942–949.
  • Yin, X., Yue, G., Liu, J., Duan, H., Duan, Q., Kou, H., Wang, Y., Yang, B., & Zeng, K. (2023). Investigation into the operating range of a dual-direct injection engine fueled with methanol and diesel. *Energy, 267*, 126625.
  • Feng, H., Chen, X., Sun, L., Ma, R., Zhang, X., Zhu, X., & Yang, C. (2023). The effect of methanol/diesel fuel blends with co-solvent on diesel engine combustion based on experiment and exergy analysis. *Energy*, Advance online publication, 128792.
  • Vargün, M., Yılmaz, İ. T., & Sayın, C. (2022). Investigation of performance, combustion, and emission characteristics in a diesel engine fueled with methanol/ethanol/n-heptane/diesel blends. *Energy, 257*, 124750.
  • Kyrtatos, P., Brückner, C., & Boulouchos, K. (2016). Cycle-to-cycle variations in diesel engines. *Applied Energy, 171*, 120–132.
  • Selim, M. Y. E. (2005). Effect of engine parameters and gaseous fuel type on the cyclic variability of dual fuel engines. *Fuel, 84*(7–8), 961–971.
  • Wang, L., Liu, J., Ji, Q., Sun, P., Li, J., Wei, M., & Liu, S. (2022). Experimental study on the high load extension of PODE/methanol RCCI combustion mode with optimized injection strategy. Fuel, 314, 122726. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2021.122726.
  • Duraisamy, G., et al. (2019). Combustion stability characteristics of advanced premixed combustion modes evaluated using the coefficient of variation of IMEP. Fuel, 252, 709–718. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2019.04.XXX.
  • Panda, K., & Ramesh, A. (2022). Parametric investigations to establish the potential of methanol based RCCI engine and comparison with the conventional dual fuel mode. Fuel, 308, 122025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2021.122025
  • Gülmez, Y. (2022). *Analysis of the effects of exhaust back pressure on engine performance and exhaust emissions in diesel engines* (Master’s thesis, Dokuz Eylül University, Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences).
  • Can, Ö. (2012). *Investigation of the effects of ethanol pre-mixed partial-HCCI application on combustion and emissions in a single-cylinder diesel engine* (Doctoral dissertation, Gazi University, Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences).
  • Vargün, M., Özsezen, A. N., Botsalı, H., & Sayın, C. (2023). A study on the impact of fuel injection parameters and boost pressure on combustion characteristics in a diesel engine using alcohol/diesel blends. *Process Safety and Environmental Protection, 177*, 29–41.
  • Kinato K., Nishiumi R., Tsukasaki Y., Tanaka T., Morinaga M. (2003) Effects of fuel properties on premixed charge compression ignition combustion in a direct injection diesel engine, Society of Automotive Engineers, SAE Papers, 2003-01-1815.
  • Yao M., Zhang B., Zheng Z., Chen Z. (2007) Experimental study on homogeneous charge compression ignition combustion with primary reference fuel, Combust. Sci. Technol. Vol.179, pp. 2539-2559.
There are 17 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Internal Combustion Engines
Journal Section Research Article
Authors

Mustafa Temür 0000-0001-5076-1922

Submission Date October 30, 2025
Acceptance Date December 25, 2025
Publication Date December 30, 2025
Published in Issue Year 2025 Volume: 1 Issue: 2

Cite

APA Temür, M. (2025). Experimental Analysis of Combustion and Cycle-to-Cycle Variations in a Methanol-Diesel Dual-Fuel RCCI Engine. Positive Science International, 1(2), 74-85.