HOMOGENOUS-CHARGE COMPRESSION-IGNITION ENGINE.

摘要

Timing of the combustion event in an homogenous-charge compression-ignition engine (12) is controlled by adjusting the reactivity of the fuel, or of the fuel/air mixture inducted into the combustion chamber of the engine. When the mixture is made more reactive, combustion occurs earlier in the cycle, and when the mixture reactivity is decreased, the reaction phasing is retarded. In one embodiment, the reactivity of the intake charge is regulated by using a catalytic (28) in the intake system (22, 24) to partially oxidize the intake mixture. In another embodiment, fuel reactivity is adjusted by passing a portion of the fuel through a catalyst (70) or a non-thermal plasma generator (72) prior to injection into the engine. In still another illustrated embodiment, an additive (82, 84) is controllably added to the fuel prior to injection into the engine to increase or decrease fuel reactivity.