Analysis of Pre-ignition Combustions Triggered by Heavy Knocking Events in a Turbocharged GDI Engine

In this paper, a pre-ignition sequence with detrimental effects on the engine has been analysed and described, with the aim of identifying the main parameters involved in damaging the combustion chamber components. The experiment was carried out in a wider research context, focused on knock damage mechanisms in turbocharged GDI engines. The pre-ignition sequence was a consequence of a high knock condition, induced at high load at 4500 rpm. The abnormal thermal load due to knock caused overheating of the whole combustion chamber, until the spark plug electrodes became a "hot spot", resulting in premature flame initiation in the following cycles, with a self-sustaining mechanism. Slight cylindrical differences, mainly in terms of volumetric efficiency, allowed comparisons and correlations between indicated parameters, pre-ignition sequence and damage. The main responsible in damaging the engine, in this case and for this engine, is the extremely high heat transferred to the walls in the pre-ignited cycles, characterized by higher mean temperatures. Heavy knock triggered the pre-ignited combustions but progressively reduced its intensity as the spontaneous ignition advance increased, thus having a secondary role in damaging directly the combustion chamber.