Downsizing direct injection (DI) gasoline engine

Engine downsizing is widely adopted to improve the fuel economy of gasoline engine-powered passenger cars, which involves the replacement of a naturally aspirated PFI gasoline engine with a smaller boosted DI gasoline engines. In order to maximize the fuel economy of a downsized engine, it is necessary to reduce further the pumping losses at part-load and minimise knocking or low-speed preignition at high load.

This project investigates the application of Miller Cycle to the highly downsized direct injection (DI) gasoline engine. The effects of Miller cycle on the emissions, thermal efficiency and performance were carried out in a single-cylinder DI gasoline engine of 120kW/l on a dedicated transient engine testbed with the boost pressure up to 5 bar provided by an external compressor.

In addition, the use of combined PFI and DI fuel injections on the engine performance and emissions are being studied.

Meet the Principal Investigator(s) for the project

Professor Hua Zhao - Academic Responsibilities Vice-Provost  and Dean,  College of Engineering, Design and Physical Sciences Former Vice Dean Research, College of Engineering, Design and Physical Sciences Director, Centre for Advanced Powertrain and Fuels (CAPF) Former Head of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Former Course directors for BEng/MEng Degrees in Motorsport Engineering, MSc in Automotive and Motorsport Engineering Former faculty advisor for Brunel Formula Student and Brunel Master Racing teams Academic Qualification and Honours BEng, Tianjin University, China. PhD, Leeds University, UK. FIMechE, Fellow of Institution of Mechanical Engineers (UK). DSc, Brunel University London. FSAE, Fellow of Society of Automotive Engineers  (US) FREng, Fellow of Royal Academy of Engineering  Foreign Member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering  Academic Career College Research Fellow,  Cambridge University, 1989-1992. Research Fellow, Imperial College of London, 1992-1994. Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, Reader, Brunel University London, 1994-2001. Professor, Brunel University London, 2002-now.

Project last modified 12/10/2023