Abstract Universal concerns about degradation in ambient environment, stringent emission legislations, depletion of petroleum reserves, security of fuel supply and global warming have motivated research and development of engines operating on alternative combustion concepts, which also have capability of using renewable as well as conventional fuels. Low temperature combustion (LTC) is an advanced combustion concept for internal combustion (IC) engines, which has attracted global attention in recent years. LTC concept is different from the conventional spark ignition (SI) combustion as well as compression ignition (CI) diffusion combustion concepts. LTC technology offers prominent benefits in terms of simultaneous reduction of both oxides of nitrogen (NO x ) and particulate matter (PM), in addition to reduction in specific fuel consumption (SFC). However, controlling ignition timing and combustion rate are primary challenges to be tackled before LTC technology can be implemented in automotive engines commercially. This review covers fundamental aspects of development of LTC engines and its evolution, historical background and origin of LTC concept, encompassing LTC principle, its advantages, challenges and prospects. Detailed insights into preparation of homogeneous charge by external and internal measures for mineral diesel and gasoline like fuels are covered. Fuel requirements and fuel induction system design aspect for LTC engines are also discussed. Combustion characteristics of LTC engines including combustion chemistry, heat release rate (HRR), combustion duration, knock characteristics, high load limit, fuel conversion efficiencies and combustion instability are summarized. Emission characteristics are reviewed along with insights into PM and NO x emissions from LTC engines. Finally, different strategies for controlling combustion rate and combustion timings for gasoline and mineral diesel like fuels are discussed, showing the way forward for this technology in future towards its commercialization.

中文翻译：

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低温内燃机的演变、挑战和前进之路

摘要 对周围环境退化、严格的排放法规、石油储备枯竭、燃料供应安全和全球变暖的普遍关注促使研究和开发以替代燃烧概念运行的发动机，这些发动机也具有使用可再生燃料和传统燃料的能力。 . 低温燃烧（LTC）是内燃机（IC）发动机的先进燃烧概念，近年来引起了全球的关注。LTC 概念不同于传统的火花点火 (SI) 燃烧以及压缩点火 (CI) 扩散燃烧概念。LTC 技术在同时减少氮氧化物 (NO x ) 和颗粒物 (PM) 以及降低比燃料消耗 (SFC) 方面具有显着优势。然而，控制点火正时和燃烧率是 LTC 技术在商业化汽车发动机中实施之前需要解决的主要挑战。这篇综述涵盖了 LTC 发动机发展的基本方面及其演变、LTC 概念的历史背景和起源，包括 LTC 原理、优势、挑战和前景。涵盖了通过外部和内部措施为矿物柴油和汽油等燃料制备均质装料的详细见解。还讨论了 LTC 发动机的燃油要求和燃油进气系统设计方面。总结了 LTC 发动机的燃烧特性，包括燃烧化学、放热率 (HRR)、燃烧持续时间、爆震特性、高负载限制、燃料转换效率和燃烧不稳定性。排放特征与对来自 LTC 发动机的 PM 和 NO x 排放的洞察一起进行审查。最后，讨论了控制汽油和矿物柴油等燃料的燃烧率和燃烧时间的不同策略，展示了该技术未来走向商业化的方向。