This is the second book edited with a selection of papers from the two-yearly THIESEL Conference on Thermo- and Fluid Dynamic Processes in Diesel Engines, organised by CMT-Mvtores Termicos of the Universidad Po/itecnica de Valencia, Spain. This volume includes versions of papers selected from those presented at the THIESEL 2002 Conference th held on lOth to 13 September 2002. We hope it will be the second volume of a long series reflecting the quality of the THIESEL Conference. This year, the papers are grouped in six main thematic areas: State of the Art and Prospective, Injection Systems and Spray Formation, Combustion and Emissions, Engine Modelling, Alternative Combustion Concepts and Experimental Techniques. The actual conference covered a wider scope of topics, including Air Management and Fuels for Diesel Engines and a couple of papers included reflect this variety. However, the selection of papers published here represents the most current preoccupations of Diesel engine designers, namely how to improve the combustion process using new injection strategies and alternative concepts such as the Homogeneous Charge Combustion Ignition.

The papers collected in this volume address all aspects related to thermofluidynamic processses in Diesel engines, from basic studies aiming to obtain a better understanding of the physical processes underlying diesel engine operation, to the real day-to-day problems associated with engine development. The topics covered comprise: Air management, injection systems, spray development and air interaction, combustion and pollutant formation, emission control strategies, and new concepts.

This volume includes versions of papers selected from those presented at the THIESEL 2000 Conference on Thermofluidynamic Processes in Diesel Engines, held at the Universidad Politecnica de Valencia, during the period of September th th 13 to 15 , 2000. The papers are grouped into seven thematic areas: State of the Art and Prospective, Fuels for Diesel Engines, Injection System and Spray Formation, Combustion and Pollutant Formation, Modelling, Experimental Techniques, and Air Management. These areas cover most of the technologies and research strategies that may allow Light Duty and Heavy Duty Diesel engines to comply with current and forthcoming emission standards, while maintaining or improving fuel consumption. The main objectives of the conference were to bring together ideas and experience from Industry and Universities to facilitate interchange of information and to promote discussion of future research and development needs. The technical papers emphasised the use diagnostic and simulation techniques and their relationship to engineering practice and the advancement of the Diesel engine. We hope that this approach, which proved to be successful at the Conference, is reflected in this volume. We thank all those who contributed to the success of the Conference, and particularly the members of the Advisory Committee who assessed abstracts and chaired many of the technical sessions. Weare also grateful to participants who presented their work or contributed to the many discussions. Finally, the Conference benefitted from financial support from the organisations listed below and we are glad to have this opportunity to record our gratitude.

This is the second book edited with a selection of papers from the two-yearly THIESEL Conference on Thermo- and Fluid Dynamic Processes in Diesel Engines, organised by CMT-Mvtores Termicos of the Universidad Po/itecnica de Valencia, Spain. This volume includes versions of papers selected from those presented at the THIESEL 2002 Conference th held on lOth to 13 September 2002. We hope it will be the second volume of a long series reflecting the quality of the THIESEL Conference. This year, the papers are grouped in six main thematic areas: State of the Art and Prospective, Injection Systems and Spray Formation, Combustion and Emissions, Engine Modelling, Alternative Combustion Concepts and Experimental Techniques. The actual conference covered a wider scope of topics, including Air Management and Fuels for Diesel Engines and a couple of papers included reflect this variety. However, the selection of papers published here represents the most current preoccupations of Diesel engine designers, namely how to improve the combustion process using new injection strategies and alternative concepts such as the Homogeneous Charge Combustion Ignition.