Troy Smith

Low-temperature combustion (LTC) engines are an advanced internal combustion technology designed to achieve both high fuel efficiency and low emissions, offering improvements over traditional diesel engines. LTC operates at reduced temperatures by using high exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) or excess air. This mode involves three interdependent phases: (1) flow characteristics, (2) chemical kinetic behavior, and (3) chemical-turbulence interactions. To realize the full potential of LTC, discovering and characterizing fuels specifically suited for these conditions is essential. My research will address two key challenges in fuel design for LTC engines. First, I will model ignition processes by predicting the formation of highly reactive species such as formaldehyde and hydroperoxyl radicals. Second, I will investigate how combustion progresses through stable intermediate species, whose reactivity depends heavily on molecular structure, including stereochemistry and isomerism, which are often overlooked in current combustion models. To meet these goals, I will use a theory-experiment feedback loop in which combustion models are continuously refined with experimental data, improving both accuracy and predictive power. Additionally, I will break down combustion processes into smaller, manageable sub-mechanisms, allowing for more detailed simulations and better use of computing resources.