Output details
12 - Aeronautical, Mechanical, Chemical and Manufacturing Engineering
University of Leeds
Influence of autoignition delay time characteristics of different fuels on pressure waves and knock in reciprocating engines
Spatial distributions of temperature and pressure in fuel-air mixtures create gradients of auto-ignition delay times and associated auto-ignitive propagation velocities. Acoustic theory is used to find amplitudes of the pressure waves, generated by the rate of change of heat release rate. If large, this leads to damaging engine knock, if small it benefits controlled auto-ignition. This innovative approach is confirmed by a variety of experimental studies by different workers. The paper demonstrates the influence of fuel properties on different modes of auto-ignition. It won the prestigious Sugden Prize of the Combustion Institute for the best British combustion paper in 2009.