Homogeneous Charge

Compression
Ignition (HCCI) Engine

By
Akshay Kumar Thakur & Saibal Sundar Panda
Mechanical Department
National Institute of Technology, Jamshedpur

Contents
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

About HCCI
The Need For HCCI
Pollution Norms
Experiments
Results
Main Challenges
Conclusions

What is HCCI ?
HCCI is a low temperature chemically controlled

combustion process.
HCCI can be considered as a hybrid between diesel and
Otto combustion process.
In the HCCI , there is neither a Diffusion Flame ( as in the
diesel engine) nor is there a flame front travelling through
the premixed charge ( as in case of a spark plug petrol
engine).

Various Combustion Processes

Working Principle of HCCI

Homogenous charge is drawn in to the cylinder during

suction and compress to high enough temperature to

achieve spontaneous ignition of the charge.
Observing the images taken by camera( 20 pictures per
CAD) following points are noteworthy
1. Combustion starts in almost whole volume of C.C
two degree before TDC (CAD- 02).
2. After Combustion initiation the temperature rapidly
increases and whole fuel burns
simultaneously (CAD0 to
CAD +03).

Images of the HCCI process on 20

FP CAD camera

Control of Combustion
Variable Compression Ratio helps to adjust

the compression ratio of the engine is while it is in

operation. This is done to increase fuel efficiency while
under varying loads.
Exhaust Gas Recirculation(EGR) increases ignition
delay , lowers ignition temperature and results in dilution
of charge
It is a proven way to reduce the NOx emission , wherein
30 to 35 % reduction in Nox is achieved by 20% EGR.

Need for HCCI

To bring down exhaust emissions.
To achieve the EURO 5 norms.
To attain higher thermal efficiency.
To reduce the consumption of fuels.
It has the potential for being less costly than the

conventional SI and CIDI engines, as they are likely to use

low pressure fuel injection technology.
The emission control systems would be less cheaper as
HCCI engines are less dependent on precious scarce
materials.

Emission Legislation

Experimental Results

Challenges Ahead
Effective control system for ignition timing.
To achieve practically Variable Compression Ratio.
Combustion Rate control for high load operation.
Emission control at high load operations.
Fuel Delivery System for various kinds of fuels to

practically achieve fuel flexibility.

Conclusions
HCCI engines are more efficient than SI and CI engines.
Lower emission of PM and NOx to meet future norms

(Euro 5 Norms ).
It has fuel flexibility.
The mentioned challenges must be overcome in order to
make the HCCI a practically usable technology.