Grant: Alliance Grants

Renewable fuels with low or zero carbon footprint show promises to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector towards a carbon neutral future. The goal of this collaborative research project is to maximize energy efficiency of powertrains utilizing high performance renewable fuels with ultralow-to-zero carbon footprint. Relationships between molecular structure, fuel properties and performances of various types of low-carbon renewable fuels will be investigated, together with advanced combustion schemes and injection strategies to seek future development directions of low carbon propulsion for the automotive and power production industry. The renewable fuel research consortium has the following objectives: 1). To study the chemical reactivity of low carbon renewable fuels for high efficiency combustion modes enabling, including advance compression ignition, lean-stratified spark ignition, and mixing controlled compression ignition 2). To improve the understanding on the impacts of renewable fuel properties on fuel spray, mixing history, charge dilution, and ignition characteristics under various combustion modes3). To develop suitable combustion strategy for renewable fuels suitable for light duty/heavy duty applications at all loads with further reduction of criteria emissions via custom control of injection timing, multiple injection events, and spark assistance4). To develop effective ignition system with in-cylinder combustion diagnostic mechanism sensitive to fuel properties for lean burn SI and advanced compression ignition combustion control Benefits expected to the engineering disciplines include: a) The generation of new theoretical knowledge and empirical data valuable for creating a more accurate and comprehensive understanding of various types of renewable fuels in combustion processes for low carbon automotive engines; b) The development of fueling strategies and combustion schemes ready for industry for a smooth transition to renewable fuels.