Accelerating clean automotive innovation: Fundamental insights into alternative fuel combustion

Alternative fuels such as renewable ethanol have much potential for a sustainable transportation future, yet engines are not optimised for these fuels, and engine design is hindered by the lack of understanding of key governing phenomena. The phenomenon of engine knock stands out as it is fuel-specific and limits the efficiency of spark-ignition engines yet sufficiently accurate multi-dimensional models of knock do not yet exist. The aim of the project is to develop fundamental understanding and computational models for knock: this will be achieved using detailed first-principles simulations and data from fundamental engine experiments. The outcomes will accelerate the development of cleaner and more efficient alternatively-fuelled engines.