Effects of direct fuel injection strategies on cycle-by-cycle variability in a gasoline homogeneous charge compression ignition engine: Sample entropy analysis

In this study we summarize and analyze experimental observations of cyclic variability in homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) combustion in a single-cylinder gasoline engine. The engine was configured with negative valve overlap (NVO) to trap residual gases from prior cycles and thus enable auto-ignition in successive cycles. Correlations were developed between different fuel injection strategies and cycle average combustion and work output profiles. Hypothesized physical mechanisms based on these correlations were then compared with trends in cycle-by-cycle predictability as revealed by sample entropy. The results of these comparisons help to clarify how fuel injection strategy can interact with prior cycle effects to affect combustion stability and so contribute to design control methods for HCCI engines.