Development and optimisation of two-line planar laser induced fluorescence technique for combustion measurements

Abstract

This study has focused on development, optimisation and implementation of the 2-line Planar Laser Induced Fluorescence (2-line PLIF) technique for combustion measurements on a single cylinder optical Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) engine with both Spark Ignition (SI) and Controlled Auto Ignition (CAI) combustion operations. The CAI combustion was achieved by employing Negative Valve Overlap (NVO). Two excitation wavelengths at 308 nm (directly from a XeCl laser) and 277 nm (via Raman shifting a KrF laser output at 248 nm) were exploited for the measurements. A calibration curve of fluorescence signal intensity ratio of the two laser beams as a function of temperature was obtained by conducting a series of static tests on a specially designed Constant Volume Chamber (CVC). The developed technique was validated by measurements of in-cylinder charge temperature during the compression stroke for both motoring and firing cycles and comparing the PLIF values with the temperature values calculated from in-cylinder pressure data assuming a polytropic compression. Following the validation measurements, the technique was applied to study of fuel spray characteristics and simultaneous measurements of in-cylinder charge temperature and mole fraction of Exhaust Gas Residuals (EGR). Further optimisation of the thermometry technique by enhancing the fluorescence Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) and improving both the temporal and spatial resolutions as well as measurements precision provided the opportunity to apply the technique to other combustion measurements. The thesis presents the first application of the 2-line PLIF diagnostic in study of direct injection charge cooling effects and study of flame thermal stratification in IC engines.