Low-cost high-efficiency GDCI engines for low octane fuels

1. A method of operating a gasoline direct injection compression ignition engine having a piston arranged within a cylinder to provide a combustion chamber, the method comprising the steps of:

supplying a hydrocarbon fuel to the combustion chamber with a research octane number in the range of about 30-65;

wherein the hydrocarbon fuel has a fraction of crude oil with a boiling point within a range of about 30-180 Celsius;

injecting the hydrocarbon fuel in completely stratified, multiple fuel injections before a start of combustion; and

supplying a naturally aspirated air charge to the combustion chamber.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the stratified, multiple fuel injections achieve a non-homogenous fuel charge within which distinct equivalence ratios varying from higher in the center to lower at the outside exist over essentially the entire speed and load operating range of the engine.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a peak combustion pressure in the combustion chamber is in a range of about 70-100 bar.

4. The method according to claim 3 , comprising a step of passing air through a charge air cooler before the combustion chamber to provide the naturally aspirated aircharge.

5. The method according to claim 4 , comprising a step of passing exhaust gas from the combustion chamber to a catalytic converter.

6. The method according to claim 5 , comprising at least one valve passing the exhaust gas downstream from the catalytic converter to a location upstream from the combustion chamber.

7. The method according to claim 6 , comprising a step of regulating the supply of naturally aspirated air charge to the combustion chamber with fixed valve timing.

8. A method of operating a gasoline direct injection compression ignition engine having a piston arranged within a cylinder to provide a combustion chamber, the method comprising the steps of:

supplying a hydrocarbon fuel to the combustion chamber and having the following properties:

a) a research octane number in the range of about 30-65;

b) a fraction of crude oil having a boiling point within a range of about 30-180° C.; and

injecting the hydrocarbon fuel in completely stratified, multiple fuel injections before a start of combustion.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the stratified, multiple fuel injections achieve a non-homogenous fuel charge within which distinct equivalence ratios varying from higher in the center to lower at the outside exist over essentially the entire speed and load operating range of the engine.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein all of the stratified, multiple fuel injections for an engine cycle occur before top dead center over essentially the entire speed and load operating range of the engine.

11. The method according to claim 8 , comprising a step of providing a peak combustion pressure in the combustion chamber in a range of about 70-150 bar.

12. The method according to claim 11 , comprising a step of providing a naturally aspirated air charge to the combustion chamber, wherein the peak combustion pressure in the combustion chamber is in a range of about 70-100 bar.

13. The method according to claim 11 , comprising a step of passing air through a charge air cooler before the combustion chamber to provide a naturally aspirated air charge to the combustion chamber.

14. The method according to claim 13 , comprising a step of passing exhaust gas from the combustion chamber to a catalytic converter.

15. The method according to claim 14 , comprising at least one valve passing the exhaust gas downstream from the catalytic converter to a location upstream from the combustion chamber.

16. The method according to claim 15 , comprising a step of regulating the supply of naturally aspirated air charge to the combustion chamber with fixed valve timing.

17. The method according to claim 8 , comprising a step of supercharging air, supplying the supercharged air to a charge air cooler and passing cooled supercharged air to the combustion chamber.

18. The method according to claim 17 , comprising a step of bypassing a supercharger to provide uncompressed air to the charge air cooler.

19. The method according to claim 17 , comprising a step of supplying exhaust gas to an exhaust gas recirculation cooler, and supplying cooled exhaust gas to a supercharger inlet.