A literature review of fuel effects on performance and emission characteristics of low-temperature combustion strategies

The fast rate of depletion of fossil fuel resources due to increasing demands and the adverse environmental impact by the automotive engines forced researchers to develop alternative strategies to meet the stringent emission norms in terms of oxides of nitrogen and particulate matter. In this regard, low temperature combustion is one of the promising advanced in-cylinder combustion strategies for reducing both oxides of nitrogen and particulate matter emissions simultaneously with a beneficial effect on specific fuel consumption. The low temperature combustion is achieved through homogeneous charge compression ignition, premixed charge compression ignition, reactivity controlled compression ignition and gasoline compression ignition. In this paper, an attempt is made to assemble and summarize a listing of important research articles on low-temperature combustion using a wide variety of conventional and alternate renewable fuels. The effect of low-temperature combustion on engine performance and emission characteristics over a wide range of engine test conditions and the challenges faced in these strategies are also described. From the assemblage of articles on low-temperature combustion using conventional and renewable fuels, it is understood that this strategy can help in achieving better performance, lower cylinder pressure and heat release rate, and simultaneous reductions of nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, but typically with an increase in carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emissions. This literature review is expected to be useful to the researchers for understanding the concept, challenges, and the state-of-the-art of the different modes of low-temperature combustion using conventional and sustainable alternate fuels.