Recent Progress in Automotive Gasoline Direct Injection Engine Technology

Abstract

Gasoline direct injection (GDI) engines are currently the dominant powertrains for passenger cars. With the implementation of increasingly stringent fuel consumption and emission regulations worldwide, GDI engines are facing challenges owing to high particulate matter emissions and a tendency to knock, leading to a change in the research and design (R&D) issues compared with those in the twentieth century. This paper reviews the progress in research regarding GDI engine technologies over the past 20 years, focusing on combustion system configurations, and also highlights common issues in GDI R&D, including preignition and deto-knock, soot formation and PM emissions, injector deposits and gasoline compression ignition (GCI). First, an overview of recent developments in the field as driven by regulations is provided, following which progress in injection and combustion systems is examined. Third, the review addresses the occurrence and mechanism of deto-knock and considers means of suppressing this phenomenon. The fourth section discusses soot formation mechanisms and particulate matter emission characteristics of GDI engines and describes the application of gasoline particulate filter (GPF) after-treatment. The subsequent section summarizes studies regarding injector deposit formation, as well as pioneering research into GCI combustion modes. Finally, a summary and future prospects for GDI engine technologies are provided.

European Regulatory Framework and Particulate Matter Emissions of Gasoline Light-Duty Vehicles: A Review

“…Book 2009 [13] -Y Y (Y) -Book 2010 [14] -Y Y (Y) -Book 2019 [15] Y Y Y Y Y Book 2019 [16] Y Y Y Y Y Paper 1999 [17] -Y ---Paper 2007 [5] -Y ---Paper 2014 [18] Y ---Y Paper 2014 [19] -Y -Y Y Paper 2015 [20] ---Y Y Paper 2015 [21] Y Y Y Y Y Paper 2017 [22] -Y Y Y Y Paper 2018 [23] -Y Y Y Y Paper 2018 [24] -Y Y -Y Paper 2018 [25] -Y Y Y Y Paper 2019 [26] -Y -Y Y Paper 2019 [27] -Y Y -Y Annual reviews [28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35] -Y Y Y Y PM = Particulate Matter; SPN = Solid Particle Number.…”

“…The PM levels are much lower for stoichiometric GDIs. Finally, injector deposits may store fuel which is subsequently burned with sooting combustion [25,46]. Fouling of injectors has been shown to significantly increase PM emissions [47,48].…”

Spray-wall interactions in direct-injection engines: An introductory overview

“…In turbocharged homogeneous gasoline-direct-injection (GDI) engines, the SWI and fuel films also play a role in the highly destructive “evil twin” of ordinary knock that is variously called superknock, megaknock, stochastic pre-ignition (SPI), and deto-knock. 14–18 Pre-ignition can cause highly destructive, seemingly random cylinder-pressure spikes (up to ∼250 bar). These occur at high loads and often, but not exclusively, at low engine speeds.…”

A three-way catalyst system for a five-stroke engine

“…The reduction of the cylinder filling results from the earlier closing of the intake valve and also from the significantly lower cam lift that controls the intake valve. With a short valve opening period, the lift limit is the result of the allowable valve acceleration that occurs during the rise and fall phases [46]. The term "Miller engine" also refers to machines obtaining an increased expansion ratio by retarding the closure of the intake valve.…”