Overview of Active Research Project
On-going research activities in the group include a variety of topics from the study of fundamental fuel sprays, to engine performance and control development, and finally vehicle connectivity and transportation system efficiency optimization. For more details on current projects, as well as a list of related publications, please follow the links below.
A comprehensive list of Dr. Bittle's publications can be found here, on Google Scholar.
A comprehensive list of Dr. Bittle's publications can be found here, on Google Scholar.
Reacting Fuel Sprays: High-speed spatially resolved two-color pyrometry, rainbow schlieren deflectometry, and chemiluminescence imaging both individually and simultaneously are used to study high pressure diesel-like fuel spray mixing, ignition, and combustion for diesel and automotive applications. These fundamental studies – enabled with a number of custom experimental apparatus – explore the impact of ambient and injection conditions, and potential bio-fuel blends on fuel-air mixing, including thermodynamics and chemical processes.
Engine Control Optimization: Advanced real-time control-based strategies are studied for emissions mitigation of heavy-duty diesel engines. These applied studies aim to enable stable ultra-lean combustion modes that have been proven to reduce in-cylinder emissions formation and thereby reduce demand on after-treatment systems of these critical heavy-duty engines used for long-haul freight transit.
Connected Vehicles and Transportation Systems: The impact of connected vehicles and infrastructure on network wide fuel economy and emissions generation has potential to change the way traffic flows are managed. Using near real-time traffic volume and vehicle classification this work aims to quantify impacts to regional fuel consumption and emissions and through connectivity reduce the penalties to individuals and the region during congested driving.