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Engine Combustion and Emission Control Group

Objectives

We perform a fundamental and advanced research associated with the engine combustion and after treatment technology to resolve the common problems that automotive manufacturers have encountered. On the other hand, we also develop the practical technology that can be immediately used for improvement of engine thermal efficiency to contribute to the reduction of fossil fuel use and CO₂ emission. In the meantime, we endeavor to establish the domestic and international standard of automotive fuels.

Research topics

Fundamental Research of Engine Systems for Industrial Needs
- Vehicle simulation modeling
- Investigation of deposition mechanism of EGR systems
- Investigation of prediction technology for the performance and degradation of exhaust gas treatment system
R&D of Next Generation Engines
- New fuel engine system
- Innovative spray, ignition and combustion technology
Standardization of Fuels for Vehicles
- International and national standardization of dimethyl ether (DME) fuel

Members

Group Leader	UCHISAWA Junko (内澤潤子)
Members	KINOSHITA Koichi (木下幸一) MIZUSHIMA Norifumi (水嶋教文) SUZUKI Shunsuke (鈴木俊介) KUZUOKA Kohei (葛岡浩平) OGUMA Mitsuharu (小熊光晴) (concurrent)
Invited researcher	TAKEDA Yoshinaka (武田好央) HIGURASHI Kazuaki (日暮一昭)
Technical staff	TSUKAZAKI Yoshiko (塚﨑好子) ABE Yohko (阿部容子) YAMAMOTO Asuka (山本明日香)

Research Topics

Development of Advanced Engine Combustion and Aftertreatment Technologies

Fluid-dynamics diagnostic using X-ray imaging techniques

Fluid dynamics diagnostic using the synchrotron X-ray imaging techniques (SPring-8 & Argonne National Laboratory)

- A novel method to measure the fluid dynamics in the optical dense region
⇒ To establish new numerical models

【Synchrotron X-ray souces】

Representative outputs	< A. Inner flow & needle motion >
< B. Spray primary breakup >

< C.Near-nozzle spray dynamics >

Revealing the formation mechanism of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

It is necessary to reduce an emission of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
For that purpose, revealing the reaction mechanism is required

To quantify the concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons formed in a combustion reaction using a flow reactor
To construct the kinetic model based on experimental data

To reveal the reaction mechanism of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons using experimental and modelling results

Elucidation of the mechanism of EGR deposit generation

[ Background / Purpose ]

Expanding the introduction area of EGR due to Tightening emission regulations such as RDE and Type 6 test is an important issue.

It is necessary to develop a reliable EGR system that complies with emission regulation.

[ Method ]
Estimate, verify and elucidate of EGR deposit formation from the results of detail chemical analysis of the exhaust gas and deposit.

Introduction the EGR system under rich combustion and low temperature expands the environment in which EGR deposits accumulate.

⇒ Common issue for each company

Measurement of reaction rates for automotive exhaust gas purification systems

Experimental determination of rate constants on exhaust gas purification reactions Acquisition of fundamental data for model-based development of zero-emission automobile
Decomposition rate of urea to NH₃

Total Performance Evaluation of Diesel Selective Catalytic Reduction Catalyst System through Lab-scale Experiments

We have developed a simple evaluation method to estimate catalytic activity on a scale of 1:10,000 of actual engine conditions using simulated laboratory gas conditions.
Rapid evaluation of catalytic activity can be expected to lead to improvements at an early stage.

Research on Energy Management for Mobility

[ Summary of the study ]

In order to reduce CO2 emissions from automobiles, there is an urgent need to make fuel or electric energy more carbon-free and to save energy by improving fuel and electricity efficiency.
In this research, our group focus on energy conservation, and analyze in detail the use route of fuel or electricity-derived energy consumed by a single vehicle using a vehicle simulation model, and propose an effective way to use waste heat and energy loss through the appropriate use of electrification technology.

[ Research Methods ]

Build a vehicle simulation model for energy flow analysis from vehicle test data
Use Modelica language (an open-source, acausal modeling language) for the vehicle simulation model.
Examine total vehicle energy management technology through simulation, taking into account electric components, air conditioning, and new devices (thermoelectric conversion devices, catalytic heaters, etc.)

Vehicle experiments using a chassis dynamo