Nov 2023
Abstract
Research aimed at increasing internal combustion engine (ICE) efficiency is of paramount importance in the context of sustainable transportation. ICEs are crucial to global transportation systems, and improved efficiency directly mitigates fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. While lean burn is a promising combustion mode for increased efficiency and reduced carbon dioxide production, challenges persist in its implementation, including combustion instability and the demand for higher ignition energies of lean charges. Pre-chamber combustion (PCC) is explored as a potential technique to implement lean burn in ICEs. The thesis focuses on experimentally investigating mixtures in the main chamber (MC) of PCC at ultra-lean and lean conditions and their interaction with pre-chamber (PC) mixture combustion products. Experimental data validate and enhance existing chemical kinetic models, extending their applicability to lean conditions for advanced computational methods. The research covers autoignition studies of iso-octane under ultra-lean and lean conditions, autoignition characteristics of PC fuel-rich mixtures, and the interaction of nitrogen oxides with main chamber ultra-lean and lean mixtures. Additionally, the study explores the combined effect of hydrogen and nitrogen oxides at lean conditions and investigates autoignition behavior of pure hydrogen/air mixtures under ultra-lean and lean conditions, emphasizing the need for model improvements, particularly at low temperatures.
Bio
Khaiyom is a Ph.D. candidate in the Mechanical Engineering program within the PSE division at KAUST. He started his PhD at KAUST in 2019 and conducted research at the Chemical Kinetics and Laser Sensors Laboratory under the supervision of Prof. Aamir Farooq. Khaiyom holds a BSc and MSc from Moscow State Technical University. His research at KAUST is primarily focused on experimental chemical kinetic studies of ultra-lean and fuel-lean mixtures under engine-relevant conditions.
