Numerical investigation of the synchronous and asynchronous changes of ignition timing in a double spark plugs direct injection rotary engine

In this study, a double spark plugs direct injection rotary engine is used to investigate the effects of synchronous and asynchronous changes of ignition timing on combustion and emission performance. The three-dimensional dynamic model was established by CONVERGE software and validated by the experimental data. The results indicate that setting the fuel injector toward the spark plug can reduce the fuel distribution at the tail of the combustion chamber, and the in-cylinder mixture inhomogeneity index gradually increases with the advance of the ignition timing. Compared with the synchronous change of ignition timing, advancing the ignition timing of the tailing spark plug can promote the combustion process. When the ignition timing of the leading spark plug is too early, the flame front will be irregular. With the advance of ignition timing, CA 0–10 corresponding to synchronous and asynchronous change all gradually increase, and the change of CA 10–90 is more stable than that of CA 0–10. Whether the ignition timing is changed synchronously or asynchronously, with the advance of the ignition time, the in-cylinder pressure shows an upward trend. The mean in-cylinder pressure corresponding to the synchronous change with the same change amplitude is slightly higher than that of asynchronous change. The peak pressure of 16.4% higher than that of the original engine can be obtained by adopting the ignition strategy of the synchronous advance of 30° CA. Under this ignition strategy, the temperature and NOx mole fraction in the combustion chamber are all the lowest.