In one-dimensional engine simulation programs the simulation of engine performance is mostly done by parameter fitting in order to match simulations with experimental data. The extensive fitting procedure is especially needed for emissions formation - CO, HC, NO, soot - simulations.
An alternative to this approach is, to calculate the emissions based on detailed kinetic models. This however demands that the in-cylinder combustion-flow interaction can be modeled accurately, and that the CPU time needed for the model is still acceptable. PDF based stochastic reactor models offer one possible solution. They usually introduce only one (time dependent) parameter - the mixing time - to model the influence of flow on the chemistry. They offer the prediction of the heat release, together with all emission formation, if the optimum mixing time is given. Hence parameter fitting for a number of kinetic processes, that depend also on the in cylinder flow conditions is replaced by a single parameter fitting for the turbulent mixing time.
In this work a PDF based model was implemented and coupled to the full cycle engine simulation tool, WAVE, and calculations were compared to engine experiments. Modeling results show good agreement with the experiments and show that PDF based Dl models can be used for fast and accurate simulation of Dl engine emissions and performance.
Methanol is today considered a viable green fuel for combustion engines because of its low soot emissions and the possibility of it being produced in a CO2-neutral manner. Methanol as a fuel for combustion engines have attracted interest throughout history and much research was conducted during the oil crisis in the seventies. In the beginning of the eighties the oil prices began to decrease and interest in methanol declined. This paper presents the emission potential of methanol. T-Φ maps were constructed using a 0-D reactor with constant pressure, temperature and equivalence ratio to show the emission characteristics of methanol. These maps were compared with equivalent maps for diesel fuel. The maps were then complemented with engine simulations using a stochastic reactor model (SRM), which predicts end-gas emissions. The SRM was validated using experimental results from a truck engine running in Partially Premixed Combustion (PPC) mode at medium loads. The SRM was able to predict the combustion in terms of pressure trace and rate of heat release. The CO and NOx emissions were matched, however, the HC emissions were underestimated. Finally, the trajectories from the SRM simulations were superimposed on the T-Φ maps to investigate the in engine conditions. The T-Φ map analysis shows that emission of soot are non-existent, formaldehyde can be avoided and that emissions of methane are kept at, compared to diesel combustion, low levels, however CO and NOx levels are similar to diesel combustion. These results were confirmed for engine conditions by the SRM simulations and the engine experiments.