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Combustion process in a spark ignition engine: analysis of cyclic peak pressure and peak pressure angle oscillations

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Abstract

In this paper we analyze the cycle-to-cycle variations of peak pressure p max and peak pressure angle α pmax in a four-cylinder spark ignition engine. We examine the experimental time series of p max and α pmax for three different spark advance angles. Using standard statistical techniques such as return maps and histograms we show that depending on the spark advance angle, there are significant differences in the fluctuations of p max and α pmax . We also calculate the multiscale entropy of the various time series to estimate the effect of randomness in these fluctuations. Finally, we explain how the information on both p max and α pmax can be used to develop optimal strategies for controlling the combustion process and improving engine performance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Mechanics, Technical University of Lublin, Nadbystrzycka 36, 20-618, Lublin, Poland

    Grzegorz Litak

  2. Dipartimento di Architettura, Costruzioni e Strutture, Universita Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131, Ancona, Italy

    Grzegorz Litak

  3. Motor Transport Institute, Jagiellońska 80, 03-301, Warsaw, Poland

    Tomasz Kamiński

  4. Department of Machine Construction, Technical University of Lublin, Nadbystrzycka 36, 20-618, Lublin, Poland

    Jacek Czarnigowski

  5. Department of Mathematical Sciences, Indiana University, 402 N. Blackford Street, Indianapolis, IN, 46202-3216, USA

    Asok K. Sen

  6. Department of Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics and Aircraft Propulsion, Technical University of Lublin, Nadbystrzycka 36, 20-618, Lublin, Poland

    Mirosław Wendeker

Authors
  1. Grzegorz Litak
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  2. Tomasz Kamiński
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  3. Jacek Czarnigowski
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  4. Asok K. Sen
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  5. Mirosław Wendeker
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Correspondence to Grzegorz Litak.

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Litak, G., Kamiński, T., Czarnigowski, J. et al. Combustion process in a spark ignition engine: analysis of cyclic peak pressure and peak pressure angle oscillations. Meccanica 44, 1–11 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11012-008-9148-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11012-008-9148-0

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