HCCI COMBUSTION: MATHEMATICAL MODELLING APPROACH USING VISUAL BASIC FOR APPLICATIONS VIVEK BHARAT PATTNI 1 , P. NAVEENCHANDRAN 2 , C. THAMOTHARAN 3 & R. RAJASEKAR 4 1,4 Research Scholar, Department of Automobile Engineering, Bharath Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Bharath University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India 2 Head of Department, Department of Automobile Engineering, Bharath Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Bharath University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India 3 Professor, Department of Automobile Engineering, Bharath Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Bharath University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India ABSTRACT In recent times, alternative combustion technology such as Homogenous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI) has been studied and results have been positive. HCCI combustion has the potential to reduce fuel consumption and NOx emissions pertaining to the most stringent of legislation of both present and future. HCCI technology is attractive as there is no need for major modifications to the existing structure of IC engines and with significantly low NOx emissions, after treatment systems are not required. However, it is difficult to control the process and achieve constancy every cycle. Therefore, globally experts are studying HCCI combustion in depth to understand the associated idiosyncrasies. Through advent of modern computers, it has become possible to simulate HCCI combustion by creating a mathematical model that can solve complex equations within minutes. This paper details mathematical modelling approach to model HCCI combustion using Visual Basic for Applications (VBA), along with insight on different types of modelling techniques and submodels required to construct the simulation model. KEYWORDS: HCCI, Auto Ignition, Mathematical Modelling, Mechanistic Model, Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) INTRODUCTION The current scenario of fossil fuel shortage, increase in prices and environmental problems due to vehicle emissions, has motivated engineers, scientists, technical education institutes and companies globally, to come up with an alternative technology to the conventional form of burning the fuel and extracting energy out of it. Several approaches have been adapted to solve this problem such as: Alternative Fuel: Use of fuel having better properties than gasoline or diesel in terms of self ignition temperature, volatility and calorific value Alternative Combustion Method: A combustion method that is more efficient than conventional methods in terms of work output and emissions. Alternative Materials: Materials that can sustain higher forces, and therefore high pressure and temperature can be used inside the cylinder so as to extract more work Alternative Engine Structure: Radically change the engine structure so as to reduce number of moving parts and hence, reduce frictional loss BEST: International Journal of Management, Information Technology and Engineering (BEST: IJMITE) ISSN 2348-0513 Vol. 2, Issue 5, May 2014, 1-8 © BEST Journals