Optical studies of advanced natural gas fuelled internal combustion engine technologies

内燃机是陆上和水上绝大多数机动性应用的原动力。然而，它们的使用伴随着已知对健康和环境产生负面影响的排放的产生。此外，它们还依赖于日益枯竭的液体燃料储备的消耗。最近发现的大量北美天然气(NG)储量提供了一种有吸引力的、更清洁的燃烧和随时可用的燃料替代方案。总部位于不列颠哥伦比亚省温哥华的Westport Innovation Inc.是天然气发动机加油技术的全球领先者，通过与不列颠哥伦比亚省大学的合作，开发了适用于中型和重型发动机的高压直接喷射(HPDI)加油系统。HPDI能够在生产柴油发动机中使用天然气，有可能减少排放和燃料消耗。UBC和Westport已经进行了大量的HPDI研究和开发；然而，尚未对这项新技术进行光学表征，这将为基本燃烧过程提供亟需的见解。

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.