journal article·2025-08-08Open access

Impact of Heat Exchanger Effectiveness and EGR on Energy and Emission Performance of a CI Engine

Alfredas Rimkus, Audrius Matulis, Saugirdas Pukalskas

Applied Sciences· Volume 15· Issue 16

Abstract

This study explores the impact of intake air cooling intensity, defined by heat exchanger effectiveness (HEE) and exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), on the energy and environmental performance of a turbocharged compression ignition (CI) engine. Experimental investigations were conducted on a 1.9-litre CI engine operating at 2000 rpm under three brake mean effective pressure (BMEP) conditions (0.2, 0.4, and 0.6 MPa), which correspond to part-load engine operation. HEE was varied at 0%, 50%, and 100%, in both EGR-on and EGR-off modes. Additional numerical simulations were carried out using AVL BOOST software to analyze combustion dynamics, including engine operating cycle modeling to validate the accuracy of the combustion analysis. The results demonstrate that increasing HEE significantly improves cylinder filling and excess air ratio, leading to enhanced combustion efficiency and lower in-cylinder temperatures. This, in turn, reduces specific NOx emissions by approximately 40% with EGR and approximately 60% without EGR; however, under EGR-on conditions, the reduced combustion intensity leads to increased smoke and unburned hydrocarbon emissions—particularly at high cooling intensities. This effect is primarily associated with the engine control unit’s (ECU) limitations on intake air mass flow to maintain the target EGR ratio. Integrated control of HEE and EGR systems improves engine performance and reduces emissions across varying conditions, while highlighting trade-offs that inform the refinement of air management strategies.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Advanced Combustion Engine Technologies · Vehicle emissions and performance · Combustion and flame dynamics

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Department of Automobile Engineering, Faculty of Transport Engineering, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Plytinės Str. 25, 10105 Vilnius, Lithuania

Department of Transport Engineering, Technical Faculty, Vilniaus kolegija/Higher Education Institution, Olandų Str. 16, 01100 Vilnius, Lithuania

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