Estimation of the shape factor (m) in Wiebe function at different operating conditions for a SI engine

The burning process is one of the most important periods, which affects thermal efficiency and exhaust gas emissions, in internal combustion engines. The combustion process in internal combustion engines is modeled with one-dimensional or multi-dimensional software because it is cheaper, faster, and more practical than experiment. One of these methods, which is used to model the combustion period, is the Wiebe function. The Wiebe equation is an approach used in calculating the mass fraction burned and the heat release rate. The selection of Wiebe parameters is one of the most important factors affecting the accuracy of the mass fraction burned. In this study, the measured cylinder pressure of a spark ignition engine was directly used to calculate the heat released rate. The experiments were conducted at different brake mean effective pressures, engine speeds and relative air/fuel ratios, which were called independent variables. The shape factor (m) was determined by fitting the Wiebe equation to the heat release rate curves, which were extracted from the experimental results. The relationship between determined shape factor and independent variables was analyzed with a statistical approach. Eventually, a linear regression model, which explains 80% of the change in the shape factor, was created.