The combustion and exhaust emissions characteristics of a liquefied petroleum gas-di-methyl ether compression ignition engine with a variable valve timing device were investigated under various liquefied petroleum gas injection timing conditions. Liquefied petroleum gas was used as the main fuel and was injected directly into the combustion chamber. Di-methyl ether was used as an ignition promoter and was injected into the intake port. Different liquefied petroleum gas injection timings were tested to verify the effects of the mixture homogeneity on the combustion and exhaust emission characteristics of the liquefied petroleum gas-di-methyl ether compression ignition engine. The average charge temperature was calculated to analyze the emission formation. The ringing intensity was used for analysis of knock characteristics.
The combustion and exhaust emission characteristics differed significantly depending on the liquefied petroleum gas injection and intake valve open timings. The CO emission increased as the intake valve open and liquefied petroleum gas injection timings were retarded. However, the particulate matter emission decreased and the nitrogen oxide emission increased as the intake valve open timing was retarded in the diffusion combustion regime. Finally, the combustion efficiency decreased as the intake valve open and liquefied petroleum gas injection timings were retarded.