Research

Our research group is trying a theoretical chemical kinetics modeling for the ignition and flame propagation process of automobile fuels. Conventional combustion simulation of internal combustion engines often uses empirical model, such as Livengood-Wu integral and 5-step model, to describe the ignition timing of fuels. However, the new engine combustion technology aiming for higher efficiency and clean combustion which includes high EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) ratio and super lean combustion encounter the physical conditions not expected in conventional internal combustion engines. Now we realized that the empirical models cannot be applied to these new combustion technologies. On the other hand, various new fuel sources, such as oil sand, oil shale, natural gas, and bio-derived materials, would expect the change of chemical compositions of automobile fuel soon. We are working on the development of the chemical kinetics mechanism of gasoline, diesel fuels and their components, and also bio-fuels by using a quantum chemical and chemical kinetics calculations. Especially, the gasoline surrogate fuel mechanism published this year (Akira Miyoshi and Yasuyuki Sakai: Construction of a Detailed Kinetic Model for Gasoline Surrogate Mixtures, Transactions of Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan, 48 (5), 1021–1026 (2017) [in Japanese]) aims for coupling chemical kinetics with computational fluid dynamics, and this mechanism can quantitively predict the ignition timing and flame velocity of gasoline. This mechanism is used in the Japanese automobile companies for the analysis of knocking phenomena which inhibits the higher efficiency of gasoline engines. The introductions of each topic are shown below;

Reduced/Detailed Chemical Kinetics Modeling for the Oxidation of Gasoline Surrogate Fuel

in preparation

Reduced/Detailed Chemical Kinetics Modeling for the Oxidation of Diesel Surrogate Fuel

in preparation

Chemical Kinetics Modeling of NOx and Soot Formation

in preparation

Chemical Kinetic Analysis of Pre-Ignition in SI engines

in preparation

Structure-Reactivity-Relationship of Autoignition of Ether Compounds

in preparation

Structure-Reactivity-Relationship of Autoignition of Aromatic Compounds

in preparation