hcci and cai engines

Known as HCCI (Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition) for diesel and CAI (Controlled Auto Ignition) for petrol, these engines reabsorb a portion of the burned gases, resulting in instantaneous ignition of the whole mixture in the combustion chamber.

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bASic FActS
the phenomenon of autoignition, the curse of old petrol engines, is used here to cause instant ignition of the whole airfuel mixture in the combustion chamber. Whether it be a petrol or diesel engine, this type of operation no longer requires ignition as an established function. The mixture is auto-ignited either by the pressure and temperature of the predetermined diesel mixture (HCCI), or by residual burned gases (CAI). In this case, traditional heterogeneous hot combustion by propagation of a flame front is replaced with overall homogeneous combustion which is colder (the temperature remains less than 1,300 C). These two points result in the absence of formation of soot particles and nitrogen oxides (NOx). Eventually, these types of engines may meet the requirements of the Euro 4 standard, and possibly the Euro 5 standard, without post-treatment of NOx or particulate filters.

in SHort
Hcci And cAi EnginES work At comprESSion rAtES tHAt lEAd to SpontAnEouS ignition oF tHE wHolE mixturE. tHE rESult iS cold combuStion in tHE cHAmbEr, producing vEry low lEvElS oF Soot And nox.

How doES it work?

the principle of these engines consists of producing an airfuel mixture in the combustion chambers which is considerably diluted by a high concentration of exhaust gases reinjected or kept in the chamber. In addition, this mixture must be perfectly homogeneous. On compression, combustion occurs spontaneously by autoignition. This phenomenon is facilitated by the high temperature of the gases reinjected or retained during the premix. This type of combustion remains difficult to control and stability is reduced. The engine ECU has to manage the quantity of fuel injected and the quantity of burned gas reinjected very accurately, in order to preserve this stability. This problem is currently a barrier to petrol engines operating only in CAI mode on a wide range of engine speeds. Dual-mode operation, combining traditional injection with CAI operation, seems a more realistic solution. However, diesel engines work better in HCCI mode in a significant range of engine speeds. Such engines are interesting candidates for equipping hybrid vehicles capable of using internal combustion in a restricted range of engine speeds.

December 2008