Effect of Water Injection on Fuel Efficiency and Gaseous and PN Emissions in a Downsized Turbocharged SI Engine
Publication: Journal of Energy Engineering
Volume 144, Issue 4
Abstract
Water injection represents a promising technology to overcome limitations of knock occurrence and fuel enrichment that reduce the efficiency of downsized spark-ignition (SI) engines. This paper presents the results of an experimental investigation performed on a port-fuel injection turbocharged spark-ignition engine within the speed range 3,000–4,500 revolutions per minute (rpm) under medium-high load conditions. Engine tests were carried out by setting the gasoline baseline conditions at 0.9 as the relative air–fuel ratio according to the standard electronic control unit engine map. As the water injection was activated, the fuel amount was steadily reduced to reach the established relative air–fuel ratios (1 and 1.05). A spark timing sweep up to the most advanced one without knock was carried out, and results of engine performance, exhaust gaseous emissions, particle number (PN), and particle-size distribution were measured and compared with the baseline gasoline case. The main findings showed that the water injection was able to stop mixture overfueling and improve fuel efficiency without engine load penalties. Regarding particulate emissions, the higher knock tolerance and better combustion phasing allowed by water injection produced significant reductions in particle number emissions, which were primarily marked at higher engine speeds.
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Acknowledgments
The authors would like to acknowledge the collaboration given by Mr. Mazzei Alfredo from Istituto Motori for the engine test bench assembly and his support throughout the experimental tests.
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Information
Published In
Journal of Energy Engineering
Volume 144 • Issue 4 • August 2018
Copyright
©2018 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Nov 28, 2017
Accepted: Feb 15, 2018
Published online: May 31, 2018
Published in print: Aug 1, 2018
Discussion open until: Oct 31, 2018
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