Optical studies of advanced natural gas fuelled internal combustion engine technologies

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Internal combustion engines are the prime movers for the vast majority of mobility applications on land and water. Their use, however, is coupled with the production of emissions that are known to have negative health and environmental impacts. In addition, they rely on the consumption of ever-depleting liquid fuel reserves. The recently discovered significant North American Natural Gas (NG) reserves present an attractive, cleaner burning and readily available fuelling alternative. Westport Innovations Inc., based in Vancouver, British Columbia, is a global leader in NG engine fuelling technologies and through collaboration with the University of British Columbia, has developed a High Pressure Direct Injection (HPDI) fuelling system for medium and heavy duty engines. HPDI enables the use of NG in production diesel engines, with the potential for reduced emissions and fuel consumption. Considerable HPDI research and development has been carried out by UBC and Westport; however, an optical characterization of this novel technology has not yet been carried out and will provide much needed insight to the fundamental combustion process. This research will use an optically accessible engine to study the fundamental in-cylinder combustion and emission formation processes in an HPDI engine using various optical techniques (high speed imaging, spectroscopy, pyrometry). The outcomes of this work will help to further develop HPDI as a technology for the effective utilization of NG in internal combustion engines with lower emissions and/or lower exhaust gas aftertreatment costs and higher efficiency. This will help strengthen Westport Innovations' position as the leader in this field, as well as help Canada establish a leadership role in the development of advanced NG technologies for internal combustion engines, and ultimately provide highly relevant end-uses for Canada's significant NG resources. Through this research, no fewer than four highly qualified personnel will also be trained and will be subsequently available to the Canadian workforce.