This sentence makes no sense to me :-/

[forum_mail]

The HCCI ignition and combustion processes are mainly driven by chemical kinetics of hydrocarbon oxidation chemistry.

HCCI to - Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition

I don't get it... it makes no sense... especially the beginning of it and its end... (chemistry ?!) Could anyone "translate" it?

[riverkid]

The HCCI ignition and combustion processes are mainly driven by chemical kinetics of hydrocarbon oxidation chemistry.
HCCI to - Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition
I don't get it... it makes no sense... especially the beginning of it and its end... (chemistry ?!) Could anyone "translate" it?

I'm not an expert in the field of chemistry, nor do I know what an 'HCCI' is, but I'll venture that this means, ROUGHLY,

The HCCI ignition and combustion processes are mainly caused by the kinetic energy found in gasoline which is extracted by an oxidation process.

I can't state categorically that what I've said is accurate for as I said, this is not my field.

Have I covered my butt sufficiently?

[forum_mail]

The thing is that:

HCCI is - Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition

then how can we have a sentence like "The HCCI ignition and combustion..." when HCCI stands for homogeneous charge compression IGNITION ?!

[riverkid]

The thing is that:
HCCI is - Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition
then how can we have a sentence like "The HCCI ignition and combustion..." when HCCI stands for homogeneous charge compression IGNITION ?!

I agree that it is a little weird, FM. Is this a manual, or conversation, an article, ...?

[forum_mail]

it's an article... or an academic paper... something like that...

[mykwyner]

It is quite common to use part of an acronym after the acronym. (How's that for clearing up your confusion?)

We say ATM machine, even though the M stands for machine.

ICU means Intensive Care Unit, most hospital workers say "ICU unit."

CES stands for Consumer Electronics Show, but most attendees refer to it as the CES show.

I think your example uses the same type of redundance, carried a little further.

[forum_mail]

Thanks! This one is really helpful!

Still, I don't understand this part of the sentence:

...by chemical kinetics of hydrocarbon oxidation chemistry.

The word "chemistry" somehow messes things up...

[mykwyner]

The word chemistry there means "the nature of how chemicals react with each other."

Here's what I think the author is trying to say:

HCCI uses the chemical process (as opposed to physical, geological, etc. processes) where hydorcarbons combine with oxygen (oxidize/burn/explode) and release energy (chemical kinetics, as opposed to muscular kinetics, or gravitational kinetics).

Many scientists and technical writers make their writings deliberately obscure either because they want to intimidate outsiders, show off their technical skills, or because they just can't write any better than that.