Comparison of the effects of multiple injection strategy on the emissions between moderate and heavy EGR rate conditions: Part 1-pilot injections

As vehicle emissions regulations have become stricter, improving injection strategies and using high EGR rates has become important to reduce engine-out emissions. Previous research has found that, a multiple injection strategy with a pilot or post injection has the potential to improve the distribution of the air-fuel mixture or oxidation. Thus, it is important to determine the effect of multiple injection strategies on the engine-out emissions. Especially, since the latest diesel engines have used high EGR rates to reduce NO_x emission, the target of emissions is different from that of moderate EGR rate condition. Under heavy EGR rate condition, it is needed to improve combustion efficiency by reduction of CO and THC emissions. Therefore, in the first research as part 1, the effects of pilot injection on the engine-out emissions were systemically evaluated for two different EGR rate conditions (30% and 60%). The characteristics of the pilot injection were different between the two EGR rate conditions because the behavior of diesel combustion is significantly different when the EGR rate is changed. This research condition was investigated using varying injection parameters such as the timing and quantity of the pilot injection. The results show that each different pilot injection strategy was suggested between two EGR rate conditions to reduce engine-out emissions. Under moderate EGR rate condition, very earlier pilot SOI with large amount has the potential to reduce NO_x and PM emissions simultaneously. On the other hand, under heavy EGR rate condition, the closest pilot SOI to main SOI has the potential to reduce CO and THC emissions.