High efficiency low temperature combustion in compression ignition engines for automotive and aeronautical applications

Internal combustion engines are increasingly subject to ever more stringent and severe Euro-legislations about pollutants emissions in terms of nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, unburned hydrocarbons and soot. In last years, thanks to advanced after treatment systems and technological innovations, emission have been improved but, due to even higher costs and complexity of such systems and in a view of further emissions restrictions, advanced combustion methods leading to cleaner and improved efficiency combustion are under investigation. A possible path to follow in order to met requirements on lower emissions, is relative to so called low temperature combustion: a group of innovative combustion methods which by exploiting lean and premixed combustion decreases significantly flame temperature which is mainly responsible for nitrogen oxide production. This work of thesis focus on preliminary study, development and experimental testing of a low temperature combustion strategy, namely "gasoline direct compression ignition" also known as "GDCI".