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Internal Combustion Engine Performance 2024
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Internal Combustion Engine Performance 2024

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "I2: Energy and Combustion Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (5 March 2025) | Viewed by 8021

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Georgios Mavropoulos

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Mechanical Engineering Educators, School of Pedagogical and Technological Education (ASPETE), 14121 Heraklion, Greece
Interests: I.C. engine performance modelling; I.C. engine pollutant emissions ; I.C. engine heat transfer; I.C. engine exhaust heat recuperation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The internal combustion (IC) engine is one of the most important and successful technological developments of the last century. Its application during all of these years and up until today has influenced practically every aspect of human life, having been used as the prime driving force in land, sea and air transportation, as the main source of electrical power production and in emergency safety installations in institutions such as hospitals or factories.

The main reasons for its enormous distribution and success are the high energy density of liquid hydrocarbon fuels combined with the ability of the I.C. engine to efficiently cover the total extent of energy demand from a fraction of a W to several dozen MW.

The world energy crisis and its environmental impact have played a major role in the development of the internal combustion engine during the last few decades. During these years it became clear that a stronger understanding of the thermodynamic processes that occur within the engine is necessary. As a result, research on I.C. engines has expanded enormously, on both simulation and experimental bases. Nowadays, the main objectives are the improvement of engine performance, the minimization of fuel consumption/CO2 emissions and a reduction in the level of exhaust pollutants. To this end, various alternative combustion techniques have been developed, or are currently under development (e.g., direct-injection SI engines, HCCI operations, etc.), and, in parallel, various internal and after-treatment exhaust measures are also being examined.

The present Special Issue for Energies, entitled “Internal Combustion Engine Performance”, has already had a successful presence in this journal for four years under the supervision of the current Guest Editor team. During this period, many interesting papers of high quality have been published in the Special Issue. This is clear proof that, despite the difficult times and the speculation around this type of energy production, combustion engines are present and alive, they are under continuous improvement and they still play a dominant role in the energy market.

In this context, the 2024 issue of “Internal Combustion Engine Performance” aims to gather further innovative research and offer important developments for the field of the internal combustion engine.

More specifically, topics of interest for the Special Issue include (but are not limited to):

  • Combustion mechanisms in spark and compression ignition engines;
  • Fuel injection and spray formation;
  • Pollutants formation (particulate matter, NOx, CO, HC, noise);
  • Exhaust after-treatment systems (three-way catalysts, oxidation catalysts, diesel and gasoline particulate filters, SCR, NOx adsorbers);
  • Internal measures for emission control (EGR, water injection, etc.);
  • Exhaust heat Recuperation Systems (Rankine cycle, turbocompound etc.);
  • Engine downsizing;
  • Effects on engine structure and design due to increased performance demands;
  • Special problems associated with large-scale two-stroke engines performance and emission reduction;
  • Alternative fuels’ and biofuels’ effects on engine performance and emissions (ethanol, butanol, biodiesel, etc.);
  • Recent advances in internal combustion engines experimentation;
  • Novel combustion systems (HCCI, PCCI and RCCI).

Dr. Georgios Mavropoulos
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • engine downsizing
  • combustion mechanisms
  • fuel injection
  • combustion systems
  • engine performance and emissions

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Related Special Issues

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 4453 KiB  
Article
Remote Monitoring, Simulation and Diagnosis of Electronically Controlled Marine Engines
by Ozren Bukovac, Vladimir Pelić, Tomislav Mrakovčić, Maro Jelić, Gojmir Radica, Tino Vidović, Nikola Račić, Branko Lalić and Karlo Bratić
Energies 2025, 18(6), 1399; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18061399 - 12 Mar 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 520
Abstract
The implementation of a system for the acquisition, transferring and processing of data essential for marine engine diagnostics is the basis of condition maintenance. Determining the most influential operating parameters, and conducting monitoring, analysis and taking action based on expert knowledge prevents downtime [...] Read more.
The implementation of a system for the acquisition, transferring and processing of data essential for marine engine diagnostics is the basis of condition maintenance. Determining the most influential operating parameters, and conducting monitoring, analysis and taking action based on expert knowledge prevents downtime due to possible malfunctions. Timely corrections and replacements of worn parts based on condition diagnostics enable maintenance planning, which reduces the frequency of maintenance and the accumulation of unnecessary spare parts in warehouses. For research purposes, a system for remote data collection from electronically controlled marine engines was developed and applied. The system was installed on a four-stroke high-speed propulsion engine from a ferry, and the operating parameters of the engine were monitored during regular sailing in order to detect irregularities and possible failures at an early stage. The measurement system monitored the parameters obtained through the electronic engine control module via the J1939 protocol, and in this paper, the following relevant engine parameters were analyzed: engine speed, boost pressure, fuel consumption and engine load at the current speed. The analysis included the creation of trend diagrams to present the distribution of the minimum, median and maximum values of each parameter of all the measurements performed. This study also examined the simulation of the faults of the high-speed four-stroke marine engine model. By utilizing sensor data from critical system components, this research investigated different scenarios. The analysis aimed to elucidate the impact of these faults on engine performance. Based on the analyses of the relevant operating parameters of the engine, diagnostics were carried out. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Internal Combustion Engine Performance 2024)
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20 pages, 2586 KiB  
Article
The Properties of Diesel Blends with Tire Pyrolysis Oil and Their Wear-Related Parameters
by Leszek Chybowski, Marcin Szczepanek, Tomasz Pusty, Piotr Brożek, Robert Pełech and Andrzej Wieczorek
Energies 2025, 18(5), 1057; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18051057 - 21 Feb 2025
Viewed by 464
Abstract
This research presents the impact of diesel blends with tire pyrolysis oil (TPO) as an additive for minimizing the wear and tear of engine components. This study investigates the blends of normative diesel oil with TPO content ranging from 5% m/m to 20% [...] Read more.
This research presents the impact of diesel blends with tire pyrolysis oil (TPO) as an additive for minimizing the wear and tear of engine components. This study investigates the blends of normative diesel oil with TPO content ranging from 5% m/m to 20% m/m. Reference measurements are made for pure diesel oil (D100) and pure TPO. This investigation included an evaluation of the corrosion effect and the effect of the fuels tested on abrasive wear. For each fuel, the sulfur content, water content, lubricity (which is defined as the corrected average diameter of the wear trace during the high-frequency reciprocating rig (HFRR) test), and impurity content are determined. Impurities are assessed using indicators such as ash residue, coking residue from 10% distillation residue, determination of wear metals and contaminants, insoluble impurity content, and total sediment by hot filtration. All parameters are determined using recognized methods described in international standards. Approximation models are built for all the analyzed parameters, which can be used in future studies. At the same time, the individual values of the analyzed factors are compared with the threshold values specified in selected standards and regulations. Consequently, it is possible to assess the usefulness of individual fuels in terms of meeting the requirements for minimum wear of engine components. The results show the suitability of pyrolysis oil and the potential for its use as an additive to fossil fuels in terms of meeting most factors. Some of the fuels tested did not meet the standards for acceptable sulfur content. However, in terms of sulfur content, all of the analyzed fuels can be used to power watercraft and land-based power and thermal power plants equipped with flue gas desulphurization systems. A second indicator for not meeting the standards is the ash residue value, which indicates the high content of non-combustible, mainly metallic, substances in the pyrolysis oil used for the tests. Post-recycled oils must, therefore, undergo appropriate purification before being used as an additive to diesel fuels for internal combustion engines. Once the post-recycling oil has been subjected to desulfurization and advanced filtration, it can be used as a fuel additive for land vehicles, which fits in with closed-loop economies and sustainable development strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Internal Combustion Engine Performance 2024)
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31 pages, 3689 KiB  
Article
Comparative Evaluation of the Effect of Exhaust Gas Recirculation Usage on the Performance Characteristics and Emissions of a Natural Gas/Diesel Compression-Ignition Engine Operating at Part-Load Conditions
by Nikolaos Rizopoulos and Roussos Papagiannakis
Energies 2025, 18(3), 710; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18030710 - 4 Feb 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 636
Abstract
The use of natural gas as an alternative fuel in dual-fuel compression-ignition engines can lead to a substantial reduction in the majority of pollutant emissions compared to fossil fuels, while the thermal efficiency of the engine can be maintained at adequate levels. Its [...] Read more.
The use of natural gas as an alternative fuel in dual-fuel compression-ignition engines can lead to a substantial reduction in the majority of pollutant emissions compared to fossil fuels, while the thermal efficiency of the engine can be maintained at adequate levels. Its usage has increased widely in recent years, and significant efforts have been made to investigate the inherent physical and chemical processes that take place during this engine’s combustion, as well as the parameters that affect the operation of the engine and use natural gas as energy source. The scope of this study is to investigate the effect of EGR temperature (cold and hot) and rate (10% and 20%) on the performance characteristics and emissions of a dual-fuel compression-ignition engine operating at a specific engine operating point under dual-fuel (diesel–natural gas) conditions. For this reason, a phenomenological two-zone combustion model was developed. The results of the model were validated against the experimental data obtained from a single-cylinder direct-injection, turbocharged compression-ignition dual-fuel research engine operated under part-load conditions (IMEP = 0.52 Mpa and engine speed = 1500 rpm) and at various replacement percentages of diesel using methane (which was treated as a natural gas surrogate). The model results were in good agreement with the experimental results, revealing the ability of the model to be used in the aforementioned EGR analysis. The results of the study revealed that engine operation with 10% cold EGR does not significantly affect the engine performance characteristics, and combined with the addition of 80% gaseous fuel energy, can lead to a substantial reduction in NO and soot emissions, with a moderate increase in CO emissions. On the other hand, a significant finding of the present work is that engine operation with hot EGR under the investigated operating conditions, even though it had a beneficial effect on NO-specific emissions, led to a reduction in engine efficiency and may raise issues regarding the mechanical strength of the engine. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Internal Combustion Engine Performance 2024)
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13 pages, 4029 KiB  
Article
Study of the Technical and Operational Parameters of Injectors Using Biogas Fuel
by Michał Bembenek, Vasyl Melnyk, Bolesław Karwat, Tomasz Rokita, Mariia Hnyp, Yurii Mosora and Łukasz Warguła
Energies 2024, 17(21), 5445; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17215445 - 31 Oct 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 947
Abstract
Using biogas fuel in a modern internal combustion engine equipped with gas equipment of the fourth and fifth generations can create several difficulties. This is due to the low heat of combustion of untreated biogas, the presence of moisture, and the specifics of [...] Read more.
Using biogas fuel in a modern internal combustion engine equipped with gas equipment of the fourth and fifth generations can create several difficulties. This is due to the low heat of combustion of untreated biogas, the presence of moisture, and the specifics of the injectors. The main problem of the studies we considered is that there are no data on the operating parameters of biogas fuel injectors. Studies on the parameters of the Matrix, Barracuda, Valtek, Hana, and Keihin injectors in relation to biogas fuel were carried out according to performance indicators, the linearity of operation, the resistance of the injectors, the ability to maintain factory parameters, and service life. According to the indicators of performance and linearity of work, Valtek injectors have the highest deviation in productivity and linearity of work, with an average of 38.8%, and the lowest deviation of Barracuda injectors is 7.5%. Keihin (15.3%) and Hana injectors (19.1%) also showed good performance indicators, and therefore can be used effectively for biogas fuel systems. As a result of research on the response time of the injectors, it was established that the best indicators were found for Hana (1.75 ms) and Keihin (1.99 ms) injectors. Valtek injectors showed good response rates (2.07 ms), as did Barracuda injectors (2.19 ms), but the highest response time was found in Matrix injectors, with 2.44 ms. Keihin injectors had the lowest average resistance value of 1.25 ohms, and Valtek injectors had the highest resistance value of 3 ohms. According to the research results, Keihin, Matrix, and Barracuda injectors provide the best ability to maintain factory performance when using biogas fuel at 2 to 5%, and Valtek had the worst performance up to 20%. Keihin, Barracuda, and Hana experimental injectors had the highest service life, which is from 200 to 250 thousand km of car mileage. The lowest indicators were found for Valtek and Matrix injectors, the service life of which varies from 70 to 100 thousand km of mileage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Internal Combustion Engine Performance 2024)
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27 pages, 15970 KiB  
Article
The Influence of the Intake Geometry on the Performance of a Four-Stroke SI Engine for Aeronautical Applications
by Fabio Anaclerio, Annarita Viggiano, Francesco Fornarelli, Paolo Caso, Domenico Sparaco and Vinicio Magi
Energies 2024, 17(21), 5309; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17215309 - 25 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1468
Abstract
In this work, the influence of plenum and port geometry on the performance of the intake process in a four-stroke spark ignition engine for ultralight aircraft applications is analyzed. Three intake systems are considered: the so-called “standard plenum”, with a relatively small plenum [...] Read more.
In this work, the influence of plenum and port geometry on the performance of the intake process in a four-stroke spark ignition engine for ultralight aircraft applications is analyzed. Three intake systems are considered: the so-called “standard plenum”, with a relatively small plenum volume, the “V1 plenum”, with a larger plenum volume, and the “standard plenum” equipped with a large curvature manifold called the “G2 port”. Both measurements and 3D CFD simulations, by using Ansys® Academic Fluent, Release 20.2, are performed to characterize and analyze the steady-flow field in the intake system for selected valve lifts. The experimental data and the numerical results are in excellent agreement with each other. The results show that at the maximum valve lift, i.e., 12 mm, the V1 plenum allows an increase in the air mass flow rate of 9.1% and 9.4% compared to the standard plenum and the standard plenum with the “G2 port”, respectively. In addition, the volumetric efficiency has been estimated under unsteady-flow conditions for all geometries at relatively high engine rpms. The difference between numerical results and measurements is less than 1% for the standard plenum, thus proving the accuracy of the model, which is then used to study the other configurations. The V1 plenum shows a fairly constant volumetric efficiency as the engine speed increases, although such an efficiency is lower than that of the other two geometries considered in this work. Specifically, the use of the “G2 port” leads to an increase of 1.5% in terms of volumetric efficiency with respect to the configuration with the original manifold. Furthermore, for the “G2 port” configuration, higher turbulent kinetic energy and higher swirl and tumble ratios are observed. This is expected to result in an improvement of air–fuel mixing and flame propagation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Internal Combustion Engine Performance 2024)
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44 pages, 2928 KiB  
Article
Exergy Analysis in Highly Hydrogen-Enriched Methane Fueled Spark-Ignition Engine at Diverse Equivalence Ratios via Two-Zone Quasi-Dimensional Modeling
by Dimitrios C. Rakopoulos, Constantine D. Rakopoulos, George M. Kosmadakis, Evangelos G. Giakoumis and Dimitrios C. Kyritsis
Energies 2024, 17(16), 3964; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17163964 - 9 Aug 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1765
Abstract
In the endeavor to accomplish a fully de-carbonized globe, sparkling interest is growing towards using natural gas (NG) having as vastly major component methane (CH4). This has the lowest carbon/hydrogen atom ratio compared to other conventional fossil fuels used in engines [...] Read more.
In the endeavor to accomplish a fully de-carbonized globe, sparkling interest is growing towards using natural gas (NG) having as vastly major component methane (CH4). This has the lowest carbon/hydrogen atom ratio compared to other conventional fossil fuels used in engines and power-plants hence mitigating carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Given that using neat hydrogen (H2) containing nil carbon still possesses several issues, blending CH4 with H2 constitutes a stepping-stone towards the ultimate goal of zero producing CO2. In this context, the current work investigates the exergy terms development in high-speed spark-ignition engine (SI) fueled with various hydrogen/methane blends from neat CH4 to 50% vol. fraction H2, at equivalence ratios (EQR) from stoichiometric into the lean region. Experimental data available for that engine were used for validation from the first-law (energy) perspective plus emissions and cycle-by-cycle variations (CCV), using in-house, comprehensive, two-zone (unburned and burned), quasi-dimensional turbulent combustion model tracking tightly the flame-front pathway, developed and reported recently by authors. The latter is expanded to comprise exergy terms accompanying the energy outcomes, affording extra valuable information on judicious energy usage. The development in each zone, over the engine cycle, of various exergy terms accounting too for the reactive and diffusion components making up the chemical exergy is calculated and assessed. The correct calculation of species and temperature histories inside the burned zone subsequent to entrainment of fresh mixture from the unburned zone contributes to more exact computation, especially considering the H2 percentage in the fuel blend modifying temperature-levels, which is key factor when the irreversibility is calculated from a balance comprising all rest exergy terms. Illustrative diagrams of the exergy terms in every zone and whole charge reveal the influence of H2 and EQR values on exergy terms, furnishing thorough information. Concerning the joint content of both zones normalized exergy values over the engine cycle, the heat loss transfer exergy curves acquire higher values the higher the H2 or EQR, the work transfer exergy curves acquire slightly higher values the higher the H2 and slightly higher values the lower the EQR, and the irreversibility curves acquire lower values the higher the H2 or EQR. This exergy approach can offer new reflection for the prospective research to advancing engines performance along judicious use of fully friendly ecological fuel as H2. This extended and in-depth exergy analysis on the use of hydrogen in engines has not appeared in the literature. It can lead to undertaking corrective actions for the irreversibility, exergy losses, and chemical exergy, eventually increasing the knowledge of the SI engines science and technology for building smarter control devices when fueling the IC engines with H2 fuel, which can prove to be game changer to attaining a clean energy environment transition. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Internal Combustion Engine Performance 2024)
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17 pages, 2041 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Engine Performance and Emissions with Eucalyptus Oil and Diesel Blends
by Robert Mădălin Chivu, Jorge Martins, Florin Popescu, Margarida Gonçalves, Krisztina Uzuneanu, Michael Frătița and Francisco P. Brito
Energies 2024, 17(14), 3528; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17143528 - 18 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1043
Abstract
This research evaluates the feasibility of using eucalyptus oil blended with conventional diesel fuel in diesel engines. Eucalyptus globulus is one of the main tree species cultivated for paper pulp in western European countries such as Portugal, and eucalyptus oil is one of [...] Read more.
This research evaluates the feasibility of using eucalyptus oil blended with conventional diesel fuel in diesel engines. Eucalyptus globulus is one of the main tree species cultivated for paper pulp in western European countries such as Portugal, and eucalyptus oil is one of the byproducts that so far has not been sufficiently evaluated as a biofuel. This study assesses the impact of using this additive on engine performance parameters and emissions as a means to contribute to reducing fossil fuel consumption and pollutant and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The analysis revealed that the addition of eucalyptus oil had a positive effect on torque, a critical performance parameter, with biofuel blends showing consistent torque increases at lower engine speeds. However, torque tended to decrease towards the higher range of engine speed for eucalyptus oil–diesel blends. Several blends showed lower brake specific fuel consumption compared to regular diesel at high engine loads and low engine speeds. Brake thermal efficiency did not vary substantially at lower engine speeds and loads but decreased at higher speeds and loads. Pollutant emissions, particularly unburned hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides, were influenced by fuel composition, with biofuel blends showing both increases and decreases compared to diesel. It is noteworthy that eucalyptus oil blends exhibited up to a 60% reduction in smoke opacity under specific operating conditions at low speed and high load for 10% incorporation (10EU90D), suggesting that in addition to the already positive effects of cutting down fossil CO2 emissions in proportion to the substitution of fossil diesel with nearly carbon-neutral eucalyptus oil, more environmental benefits may be expected from the incorporation of this product. Although the present economic viability of using eucalyptus oil as a biofuel is still not guaranteed, the present study seems to reinforce its technical viability. Future prospects for the improvement of oil yield through biotechnology, the economic interest of this product for several countries, and the updating and upscaling industrial processes may allow the viability of this biofuel to remain a possibility in the future Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Internal Combustion Engine Performance 2024)
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