Engine Combustion

Results 1–25 of 30
Current Filters Clear all

35th International Combustion Symposium a Resounding Success

Post, September 22, 2014 • Elaine Oran, a professor of engineering at the University of Maryland, gave the keynote address on “Understanding explosions: From catastrophic accidents to the creation of the universe.” (Photos by Dino Vournas) The 35th International Combustion Symposium, the premier conference on combustion science and application held on August 3–8 in San...
|

Characterizing the development of thermal stratification in HCCI engines

Post, May 16, 2011 • Homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) engines can deliver high efficiencies—comparable to a diesel engine or higher—and ultra-low NOx and particulate emissions. They also offer the potential for lower cost than diesel engines and do not require expensive diesel-emissions after treatment for a significantly lower overall package price. HCCI is therefore...
Figure 1. Schematic of the optically accessible HCCI research engine.|Temporal sequence of T-map images at the mid-plane of the pancake combustion chamber|Figure 3. T-map image sequence from mid-plane to near the wall at 360° CA. The “z” value below each image gives the distance of the image plane below the cylinder head.|Figure 4. Side-view T-map image showing the thermal stratification in the bulk-gas and near-wall regions at TDC (360° CA).

CRF Research Demonstrates Wide Appeal

Post, August 9, 2013 • Adding to the numerous citings of CRF papers in the past, two new examples confirm the value that others place on our work. While visiting the website of the Proceedings of the Combustion Institute, a biennial publication at the forefront of combustion science, Sandia Senior Scientist John Dec of the...
Placeholder

CRF Research Seeks to Improve Confidence in Large Eddy Simulations

Post, May 30, 2014 • Allowing solutions unattainable with direct numerical simulation and offering far greater accuracy than conventional engineering methods, large eddy simulation (LES) is now widely used for studying complex thermophysics in propulsion and power systems. However, because LES demands extremely complex tools, predictive LES has been problematic, leading to sometimes ambiguous results...
|

CRF Researcher on Organizing Committee for Turbulent (Non)Premixed Flames Workshop

Post, October 3, 2012 • CRF researcher Rob Barlow served on the organizing committee for the Turbulent (Non)Premixed Flames (TNF) workshop, held in Darmstadt, Germany from July 26-28, 2012. The TNF workshop, which was hosted by the Technical University of Darmstadt, was attended by several CRF researchers and focused on experimental and computation work in...

CRF Researchers honored at SAE World Congress

Post, May 22, 2012 • Three Sandians from the Engine Combustion group were honored at the 2012 SAE World Congress Awards Ceremony on April 24 in Detroit. Lyle Pickett was presented with the 2011 SAE John Johnson Award for Outstanding Research in Diesel Engines, Ben Peterson received the Russell S. Springer Award, and Chuck Mueller...

CRF Researchers Honored by DOE

Post, July 10, 2014 • Two Sandians received the DOE Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Program achievement award. Pictured (from left to right) are Erika Sutherland (DOE FCTO), Brian Somerday, Chris San Marchi, and Will James (DOE FCTO). The Annual Merit Review and Peer Evaluation Meeting held on June 17, 2014, gave two DOE groups, the...

Dennis Siebers hosts Advanced Engine Combustion program review

Post, April 8, 2013 • Engine Combustion manager Dennis Siebers hosted an Advanced Engine Combustion program review meeting from Feb. 5-7. Participants included researchers from the national labs, academia, and industry. Jackie O’Connor, Paul Miles, John Dec, Lyle Pickett, Cosmin Dumitrescu, Julien Manin, Magnus Sjoberg, Dipankar Sahoo, and Scott Skeen gave presentations on their research.

Dennis Siebers Leaves Behind a Lasting Legacy in Engine Combustion Research

Post, July 8, 2014 • Dennis Siebers Nearly 40 years ago, Dennis Siebers was drawn to Sandia for the opportunity to perform “exceptional service in the national interest.” In July, his 38-year career at Sandia, most of it spent in the CRF, came to a close with his retirement. “It’s difficult to measure the impact...
||||

EERE Officials Visit CRF

Post, May 21, 2014 •   Paul Miles leads David Danielson, on the far left, and the rest of the group through the small-bore diesel/light-duty diesel laboratory. On April 14, officials from the DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) visited the Combustion Research Facility. The guests included David Danielson, EERE Assistant Secretary;...
||

Free-Piston Engines: A Possible Route to Hybrid-Electric Vehicles

Post, November 20, 2014 • A Sandia team is pursuing a novel route to hybrid-electric vehicles: the free-piston engine. So called because the piston is not mechanically linked to other engine systems, such as the crankshaft, the free-piston engine may provide greater efficiency than its conventional diesel and gasoline counterparts. Fueled by renewably sourced hydrogen,...

How low-temperature combustion enables cleaner, more efficient engines

Post, April 9, 2013 • If you ask a long-haul trucker or a European car driver what pump they pull up to at the fuel station, the answer will most likely be “diesel.” These drivers choose diesel-fueled vehicles because diesel engines are more efficient than gasoline engines. When burning tens of thousands of gallons per...
|

Leaner Lifted-Flame Combustion: An ideal companion for biofuels

Post, July 31, 2012 • When Aristotle said that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, he probably wasn’t thinking of engines and biofuels. But his famous quote applies perfectly to the synergy between Leaner Lifted-Flame Combustion (LLFC) and oxygenated biofuels. Each technology has its own limitations, but combining the two may...
|

Lyle Pickett awarded SAE John Johnson Award

Post, May 15, 2012 • 2012 SAE President, Frank O. Klegon, Dr. John H. Johnson, Michigan Technological University and award winners Lyle Pickett, Cherian A. Idicheria, Caroline L. Genzale, and Dennis L. Siebers CRF researcher Lyle Pickett was recently awarded the 2011 SAE John Johnson Award for Outstanding Research in Diesel Engines. Lyle was recognized...
|

Lyle Pickett Named SAE Fellow

Post, October 21, 2013 • Lyle Pickett has been named a Fellow of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). Established in 1975, the Fellow grade honors and recognizes important engineering, scientific, and leadership achievements to enhance the status of SAE’s contributions to the profession and to society. Lyle was selected based on his pioneering research...

Measurements of Thermal Stratification in an HCCI Engine

Post, December 18, 2012 • Measurements of Thermal Stratification in an HCCI Engine As automotive and diesel engine companies strive to find more fuel efficient, environmentally friendly technologies, some have turned their attention to Homogenous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI). HCCI engines use fuel mixed with a substantial amount of excess air or recirculated exhaust gas...
|||

Negative Valve Overlap: A Key to Controlling Lean, Gasoline Auto-Ignition?

Post, October 21, 2013 • By Richard Steeper The drive for cleaner, more efficient engines has pushed research toward low-temperature gasoline combustion (LTGC) strategies that offer hope of achieving mandates for ultra-low engine-out emissions. Such strategies typically exploit auto-ignition to avoid the high-temperature flames associated with spark ignition. However, this approach makes LTGC control a...
||

New Conceptual Insights into Diesel Engine Fuel-Injection Processes

Post, March 12, 2014 • By Joe Oefelein By combining advanced theory and high-fidelity large eddy simulation, CRF researchers Rainer Dahms and Joe Oefelein have provided new conceptual insights that promise to improve the understanding and prediction of fuel-injection processes at high-pressure diesel engine conditions. Their results, which were corroborated by experiments performed by CRF...
|||

New Polarized-Depolarized Measurement Capability Extends Use of Raman/Rayleigh Methods to More Flame Types

Post, February 26, 2014 • By Robert Barlow Allowing single-shot measurements of all major species in nonsooting flames of simple fuels, such as H2 and CH4, spontaneous Raman scattering has been a key CRF laser diagnostic technique for fundamental turbulent-combustion studies. However, laser-induced fluorescence from soot precursors tends to interfere significantly with Raman scattering signals—limiting...
|

Optimizing Engines for Alternative Fuels

Post, August 9, 2013 • by Magnus Sjöberg Given their potential to address issues related to limited petroleum reserves and accelerating global climate change, renewable fuels and improved engine efficiency are receiving significant research attention. Specifically, researchers are exploring the challenges of developing engines that can operate efficiently on alternative fuels, while offering high performance...
||

Paul Miles Appointed Manager of Engine Combustion Department

Post, July 8, 2014 • Paul Miles On June 6, Paul Miles became manager of the CRF’s Engine Combustion Department, which focuses on building the science base needed by industry to develop new generations of high-efficiency, clean engines. He took over the helm from departing manager Dennis Siebers, who recently retired from Sandia National Laboratories....

SAE International Honors CRF Researchers for Outstanding Presentations

Post, July 25, 2014 • Joseph Oefelein Solid technical work is great—but the ability to communicate effectively about that work is equally critical. To acknowledge the importance of good communication—and maintain a high quality of presentation at its technical meeting—SAE International established the SAE Excellence in Oral Presentation award in 1972. This year, two Sandians,...
Placeholder

Sandia Engaged in Upcoming Combustion Symposium and Workshops

Post, April 29, 2014 • A number of CRF staff members are active in organizing the 35th International Symposium on Combustion. This biennial event, which brings together more than 1,000 scientists, engineers, and others from around the world to explore the latest developments in combustion science, will be held from August 3–8, 2014, at the...

Sandia experts lead technical investigation of hydrogen release incident

Post, October 12, 2012 • Hydrogen experts at Sandia/California were tapped for their technical expertise through a first-ever contract with the state of California to investigate a May 4 hydrogen release at the Bay Area’s Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) hydrogen fueling station in Emeryville, CA. Based on the outcome of that investigation, on...
||
Results 1–25 of 30