Detection of Combustion Chamber Deposits in Diesel Engines Through Cylinder Pressure and Exhaust Temperature Measurements

Abstract

This paper describes experimental research aimed at developing techniques for monitoring the growth of combustion chamber deposits in diesel engines using data obtained from cylinder pressure and exhaust temperature measurements. A naturally aspirated single cylinder research engine was operated alternately between low load “coking” conditions (2.5 bar BMEP) and higher load “decoking” conditions (5.5 bar BMEP) intended to promote the formation and removal, respectively of combustion chamber deposits. The polytropic exponent of compression was observed to increase during coking runs and decrease during decoking runs. The peak heat release rate was observed to decrease during coking runs and increase during decoking runs. The peak cycle value of the first derivative of the exhaust thermocouple signal decreased during coking runs but exhibited no clear trend during decoking runs. Conventional exhaust temperature measurements showed no consistent trend during coking runs but the exhaust temperature decreased during decoking runs.