Performance and Emission Characteristics of a Common Rail Direct Injection Diesel Engine Using Pilot Injection

Abstract:

Pilot injection is a useful technique for lowering high rates of pressure rise at injection initiation and ignition delay. This leads to increased hydrocarbon emissions but less nitrogen oxides and noise. This work considers the impact of pilot injection on a twin-cylinder turbocharged common rail direct injection diesel engine powered by diesel. By adjusting the pilot injection quantity from 5 to 25% (in increments of 5%) of the main injection quantity and the pilot injection timing from 0 to 25 crank angle degrees (CAD) in steps of 5 CAD before the main injection, engine experiments were conducted at a constant speed of 2500 rpm and fuel injection pressure of 120 MPa. Performance factors like brake thermal efficiency and brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC), and emission factors like soot and nitrogen oxides were assessed experimentally. The findings show that while BSFC and soot decreased with a rise in pilot injection quantity, BTE and NOx increased. Prior to the main injection, at a pilot injection timing of 10 CAD, improved BTE and BSFC were noted. In relation to pilot injection timing, NOx and soot emissions exhibit opposing tendencies. While soot emissions initially decline until a pilot injection timing of 15 CAD, and then rise, NOx emissions first rise until a pilot injection timing of 15 CAD and then fall.

• Periodical: Engineering Headway (Volume 28)
• Pages: 123-132
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/p-UV0pQ2
• Online since: November 2025
• Authors: Venkateswarlu Kavati*, Ester Angula
• Keywords: Brake Thermal Efficiency, CRDI Engine, Injection Pressure, Pilot Injection Timing

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