SI/HCCI Mode Switching Optimization in a Gasoline Direct Injection Engine Employing Dual Univalve System

Homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) is a feasible combustion mode meeting future stringent emissions regulations, and has high efficiency and low NO_X and particle emissions. As the narrow working condition range is the main challenge limiting the industrialization of HCCI, combustion mode switching between SI and HCCI is necessary when employing HCCI in mass production engines. Based on a modified production gasoline direct injection (GDI) engine equipped with dual UniValve system (a fully continuously variable valvetrain system), SI/HCCI mode switching under low load condition is investigated. According to the results, combustion mode switching from SI to HCCI is more complicated than from HCCI to SI. As HCCI requires strict boundary conditions for reliable and repeatable fuel auto-ignition, abnormal combustion easily appears in transition cycle, especially when combustion switches from SI to HCCI. Timing control strategies can optimize the combustion of transition cycles. With the optimization of timing control, the mode switching from SI to HCCI can be completed with only two transition cycles of late combustion, and abnormal combustion can be avoided during the mode switching from HCCI to SI. Under the low load condition, the indicated efficiency reaches 39% and specific NO_X emissions drop down to around 1 mg/L/s when the combustion mode is switched to HCCI mode. Compared to SI mode, the indicated efficiency is increased by 10% and the specific NO_X emissions are reduced by around 85%.