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Engine Experiments

Internal Combustion Engine Laboratory

The engine laboratory has two multi-cylinder diesel engines, one multi-cylinder gasoline engine, and one CFR engine. The present focus is on diesel engine research featuring both low temperature HCCI combustion and alternative fuel (biodiesel) combustion. The diesel engine is equipped with state-of-the-art high-pressure common-rail injection systems. The system allows multiple injection pulses with flexible injection timings. A water-cooled EGR system also enables the use of high EGR for achieving low emissions.

Research Sponsors and Projects

• John Deere

Investigating low temperature combustion in multi-cylinder, turbocharged diesel engines. Achieving low exhaust emissions by optimizing engine operating conditions, in particular, injection schemes and exhaust gas recirculation.

Numerical Modeling

Spray and Combustion Model Development

Various spray and combustion models have been developed and implemented into the base CFD code - KIVA. The goal is to develop a predictive computer model that can be used to explore in-cylinder details and also as a tool for engine design. Fuel combustion and emissions formation chemistry is simulated by using detailed chemical reaction mechanisms that consist of hundreds of species and reactions.

Research Sponsors and Projects

• Ford

Developing advanced numerical schemes to increase the accuracy of spray simulation.

• Ames Laboratory, Department of Energy

Detailed chemistry simulations of fuel spray combustion considering practical fuel components. Integrating multi-component fuel vaporization into multi-phase CFD.

Biodiesel Combustion

Combustion Properties of Biodiesel

There are important biodiesel characteristics that are not well known, such as in the areas of combustion chemistry and emissions influence. The objective of this research is to explore the fundamentals of biodiesel combustion and investigate engine performance of using biodiesel/diesel blends.

Research Sponsors and Projects

• Iowa Energy Center

Investigating effects of burning biodiesel/diesel blends in large diesel engines for utility generation. In collaboration with Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities.

• Midwest Transportation Consortium

Managing early adoption of biodiesel by commercial fleets. Tracking effects of using biodiesel/diesel blends in Iowa's fleet trucks.

Automotive Engine Research

Engine Combustion and Emissions

This research focuses on combustion efficiency and exhaust emissions of automotive engines. In-laboratory engine tests have been performed to determine the fuel economy and exhaust emissions.

Research Sponsors and Projects

• United Environment and Energy

Investigating conversion efficiency and light-off of three-way catalytic converters with different configurations.

Current Students

Yuanhong Li (PhD)
Qingluan Xue (PhD)
Prashanth Karra (PhD)
Lei Zhang (PhD)
Matthias Veltman (PhD)
Aaron Reiter (MS)
Anthony Phan (MS)
Brian Kalina (MS)
Ravi Kolakaluri (MS)
Sujith Sukumaran (MS)
Sharan Sethuraman (MS)
Curt Andres (MS)
Dustin Ridenour (MS)