Simultaneous Negative PLIF and OH* Chemiluminescence Imaging of the Gas Exchange and Flame Jet from a Narrow Throat Pre-Chamber

Pre-chamber combustion (PCC) is a promising engine combustion concept capable of extending the lean limit at part load. The engine experiments in the literature showed that the PCC could achieve higher engine thermal efficiency and much lower NOx emission than the spark-ignition engine. Improved understanding of the detailed flow and combustion physics of PCC is important for optimizing the PCC combustion. In this study, we investigated the gas exchange and flame jet from a narrow throat pre-chamber (PC) by only fueling the PC with methane in an optical engine. Simultaneous negative acetone planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) imaging and OH* chemiluminescence imaging were applied to visualize the PC jet and flame jet from the PC, respectively. Results indicate a delay of the PC gas exchange relative to the built-up of the pressure difference (â-? P) between PC and the main chamber (MC). This should be due to the gas inertia inside the PC and the resistance of the PC nozzle. The PC jet can be either continuous or intermittent depending on the â-? P and pressure fluctuation amplitude. Distinct PC jet with low speed is witnessed after 15° CA ATDC, which could account for the post-combustion of the PCC engine in the literature. The probability distribution analysis of the PLIF and OH* images presents a much longer penetration length of the PC jet than that of the flame jet. This means that the flame jet resides in an atmosphere of the unburned gas mixture from the PC when it appears in the MC. The flame jet and PC jet show longer penetration length and become more stable with the enriching of the prechamber charge from lean to stoichiometric. However, the overall PC jet characteristics regarding the penetration length and probability distribution become less sensitive to the PC global excess air ratio (?) when the PC charge is close to stoichiometry.