Browse Topic: Alternative fuel engines

Items (398)
Pre-design Investigation of Resonant Frequency Effects on Gas Exchange Efficiencies of a One-kW Natural-Gas Linear Engine Alternator2020-01-04884/14/2020
Performance of a natural gas two-stroke engine incorporated in a 1-kW free-piston oscillating Linear Engine Alternator (LEA) - a household electricity generator - was investigated under different resonant frequencies for pre-design phase purposes. To increase the robustness, power density, and thermal efficiencies, the crank mechanism in free-piston LEA is omitted and all moving parts of the generator operate at a fixed resonant frequency. Flexure springs are the main source of the LEA’s stiffness and the mass-spring dynamics dominates the engine’s speed. The trade-off between the engine’s performance, mass-spring system limits, and power and efficiency targets versus the LEA speed is very crucial and demands a careful investigation specifically at the concept design stages to find the optimum design parameters and operating conditions. CFD modeling was performed to analyze the effects of resonant frequency on the engine’s gas exchange behavior. To take combustion effects into account, a semi-empirical method was employed to obtain the initial and boundary conditions during the gas exchange from experiments and imported into CFD simulation. The numerical results of the gas exchange were validated at the engine speed of 5400 RPM with the experimental results. The semi-empirical method eliminated the complicated combustion simulation and significantly reduced the computational time and well-matched with experiments within 1 % error. Results showed enhanced trapping efficiency of 7.1% per 1000 RPM, and reduced scavenging efficiencies of 5.5% per 1000 RPM as speed engine’s speed increased. Comparison of the trapping and scavenging efficiencies showed an improved fuel/power efficiency equal to about 1.45 % per each 15 Hz increase in the LEA resonant frequency.
Zamani Meymian, NimaDarzi, MahdiJohnson, DerekFamouri, Parviz
Piston Bowl Design Optimization to Improve Low End Rated Torque in BS-VI Diesel Engine Based on Multi-Dimensional Combustion Simulation2020-01-02414/14/2020
In cylinder combustion and emission characteristics are dependent on piston bowl geometry design. In-cylinder fuel air mixing and flame front movement are influenced by piston bowl shape and design. These phenomena in turns affect the combustion behavior and the power developed by the diesel engine. In this study piston bowl geometry optimization of a LMD diesel engine is carried out to improve the torque and BSFC output at low end rated operating zones. The optimized bowl geometry is also incorporated in the engine and validated on the test bed. In this work, a commercially available CFD code AVL FIRE is used for combustion simulation and bowl geometry optimization. The validation of in-cylinder combustion simulation of a 2 liter Turbocharged LMD BS-VI diesel engine with base piston bowl geometry is carried out with the available test data. The validation of combustion simulation is performed for four engine operating speed points covering rated torque to rated power operating condition. Four key piston bowl geometry parameters were selected for the optimization study with the objective to improve the torque output at rated torque operation. Two bowl geometries from the optimization study were selected for further analysis at remaining engine operating points. Both the bowl geometries showed improvement in torque and BSFC at all the simulated operating zones. Based on the design feasibility one of the bowl geometry was selected for validation on physical engine. The results from test bed showed the optimized geometry gave torque improvement as predicted by the combustion simulation.
Appukuttan, AnishBisht, JasvirKaundabalaraman, KaarthicRathi, Hemantkumar
Pre-chamber ignition is a method to simultaneously increase the thermal efficiency and to meet ever more stringent emission regulations at the same time. In this study, a single cylinder research engine is equipped with a tailored pre-chamber ignition system and operated at two different compression ratios, namely 10.5 and 14.2. While most studies on gasoline pre-chamber ignition employ port fuel injection, in this work, the main fuel quantity is introduced by side direct injection into the combustion chamber to fully exploit the knock mitigation effect. Different pre-chamber design variants are evaluated considering both unfueled and gasoline-fueled operation. As for the latter, the influence of the fuel amount supplied to the pre-chamber is discussed. Due to its principle, the pre-chamber ignition system increases combustion speeds by generating enhanced in-cylinder turbulence and multiple ignition sites. This property proves to be an effective measure to mitigate knocking effects. It is shown that less spark retard compared to conventional spark ignition allows to exploit the efficiency benefit of elevated compression ratios also in high load operation for stoichiometric mixtures. Furthermore, auxiliary fueling of the pre-chamber enables ultra-lean combustion (λ=2.0) with very low NOx emission levels. Apart from decreased throttling losses lean burn assists to further suppress knocking in case of elevated compression ratios. Finally, it is demonstrated that the combination of ultra-lean combustion and elevated compression ratio leads to a significant improvement of the indicated efficiency with peak values of about 43 %. Higher PN emissions in low load and increased heat losses remain challenges of the used pre-chamber ignition system.
Stadler, AndreasSauerland, HenningHärtl, MartinWachtmeister, Georg
Effects of Sub-Chamber Configuration on Heat Release Rate in a Constant Volume Chamber simulating Lean-burn Natural Gas Engines2019-32-05511/24/2020
Sub-chamber is a useful device with regard to sustaining stable operation of compressed natural gas (CNG) engines under lean burn conditions. In our previous studies, we applied a sub-chamber injection system to CNG engines, in which a single injector and a spark plug are mounted in a small sub-chamber. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of the sub-chamber configuration on heat release in the main combustion chamber. 11 types of sub-chamber with different nozzle number, nozzle diameter, and sub-chamber volume were examined under a condition that pressure is 2.3 MPa, and global equivalence ratio is 0.6. When the sub-chamber with smaller nozzles are used, the penetration velocity of burned gas jet increases. In addition, the velocity also increases with an increasing sub-chamber volume. The high-speed penetration of burned gas jet shortens the period of initial flame development. This is because the high-temperature burned gas quickly reaches to side wall of main chamber, and immediately ignites lean mixtures existing in the main chamber. Consequently, combustion duration time until heat release reaches 90 % is also shortened. On the other hand, the velocity difference between the jets from sub-chambers with different nozzle numbers is small. To predict the penetration velocity, we proposed an empirical formula based on the volume, nozzle diameter and nozzle number of sub-chamber. The jet intensity evaluated from the formula shows correlations with duration times of combustion periods as well as penetration velocities of burned gas jets.
Nada, YuzuruKidoguchi, YoshiyukiYamashita, YutoFurukawa, RyoKaya, RyuNakano, HideakiKobayashi, Shinichi
Design and Development of a High-Efficiency Single Cylinder Natural Gas-Fueled Jet Ignition Engine2019-32-05651/24/2020
The current energy climate has created a push toward reducing consumption of fossil fuels and lowering emissions output in power generation applications. Combined with the desire for a more distributed energy grid, there is currently a need for small displacement, high efficiency engines for use in stationary power generation. An enabling technology for achieving high efficiencies with spark ignited engines for such applications is the use of jet ignition which enables ultra-lean (λ > ~1.6) combustion via air dilution. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the development of a 390cc, high efficiency single cylinder natural gas-fueled jet ignition engine operating ultra-lean. The engine was developed as part of the Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy (DOE ARPA-E) GENSETS program. Design choices for minimizing friction are highlighted as well as test results showing further friction reduction through downspeeding. Extensive hardware optimization of the combustion system has been performed and results are presented for air-flow path optimization and the jet igniter. The efficiency benefits related to enleanment and downspeeding are analyzed using an efficiency loss breakdown based on the First Law of Thermodynamics. Through optimization efforts a peak brake thermal efficiency in excess of 34% was achieved, representing an increase of greater than 20% over the current state-of-the-industry for comparably sized CNG engines.
Peters, NathanSubramanyam, Sai Krishna PothurajuBunce, MichaelBlaxill, HughPihl, JoshMoses-Debusk, MelanieVishwanathan, GokulTew, David
Hydrogen as a Combustion Enhancer for Highly Efficient Ultra-Lean Spark-Ignition Engines2019-01-225812/19/2019
Performance of lean burn gasoline spark-ignition engines can be enhanced through hydrogen supplementation. Thanks to its physicochemical properties, hydrogen supports the flame propagation and extends the dilution limits with improved combustion stability. These interesting features usually result in decreased emissions and improved efficiencies which is of the utmost importance for future SI engines targeting ultra-lean conditions at λ ≥ 2 and brake thermal efficiencies above 50%. Compared to previous studies of hydrogen supplementation, this article aims at demonstrating how hydrogen can support the combustion process with a modern combustion system optimized for extreme dilution rates and high efficiency.Experimental investigations performed with a single cylinder engine are reported and show that the minimal amount of hydrogen required to reach λ = 2 is in the range of 2 to 4% of the total intake volume flow rate. At low load, NOx emissions can be lowered down to 33 ppm at λ = 2 and results also show that a10-fold decrease in NOx emissions is possible when the dilution rate increases from the lean limit without hydrogen up to λ = 2. In those ultra-lean conditions, particle emissions are also significantly lowered. Unburned energy is around 5% in low load conditions at λ = 2 but the engine-out unburned hydrocarbon concentration is maintained at an acceptable level. At high load, combustion timings can be improved thanks to the increase in the maximal dilution rate and to the better auto-ignition resistance of hydrogen. Consequently, the indicated efficiency is increased by more than 6% abs. compared to the reference stoichiometric conditions. Finally, a maximal indicated efficiency of 47.0% is obtained at λ = 2 with 3% of hydrogen at 3000 rpm - 13 bar IMEP. For this operating point, similar performance are obtained with a dual air/EGR dilution.
Zaccardi, Jean-MarcPilla, Guillaume
Particle and Gaseous Emissions from a Heavy-Duty SI Gas Engine over WHTC Driving Cycles2019-01-222212/19/2019
The use of gaseous fuels in internal combustion engines is increasing, due to several reasons, first of all their low environmental impact, large availability and low cost. Nevertheless, the need to reduce emissions also from gas engines is an important aspect to be considered in order to comply with future engine emissions regulations. In this scenario, an extensive experimental activity was performed to fully characterize an heavy duty spark ignition engine, under development for Euro VI compliance and designed to run with gaseous fuels. Two separate sets of experiments were carried out, in order to analyze the engine behavior when burning LPG and CNG, respectively. To this aim, the engine was installed on a dynamic test bench, accurately instrumented to characterize the combustion evolution, performance and exhaust pollutant emissions, along the World Harmonized Transient Cycle (WHTC), the new European driving homologation cycle. The main part of the manuscript addresses the analysis of the exhaust particulate emissions, in terms of soot concentration, particle number (PN) and particle size distribution function (PSDF). More in detail, a photo-acoustic sensor and a fast particulate spectrometer were adopted for on-line soot, PN and particle size measurements, during the transient engine tests. The results revealed that although the gaseous emissions were within homologation limits, soot and PN could represent an issue for this class of engines. The experiments allowed to highlight that most part of the particles are emitted during specific phases of the driving cycle and could be ascribed to the engine oil vapors combustion. Moreover, the investigation, indicating which engine operating conditions displayed the highest contribution to particles emissions, may provide helpful insights to deal with such critical conditions.
Napolitano, PierpaoloGuido, ChiaraBeatrice, CarloFraioli, ValentinaAlfuso, Salvatore
Experimental Investigation on the Influence of Brake Mean Effective Pressures up to 30 bar on the Behavior of a Large Bore Otto Gas Engine2019-01-222412/19/2019
For large bore Otto gas engines a high specific power output and therefore high engine load promises a rise in engine efficiency on one hand and on the other hand a reduction of the performance-related investment. However, this can negatively affect the emissions performance, operating limits especially in regards to knocking, and component life. For this reason at the Chair of Internal Combustion Engines (LVK) of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) experiments with a 4.77 l single-cylinder research engine were carried out to investigate the boundary conditions, potentials and downsides of combustion processes with a brake mean effective pressure beyond current series engines and higher than 30 bar. The objective in this investigations was to achieve BMEP > 30 bar with an engine configuration that widely represents the current series-production status. Hence, an unscavenged prechamber spark plug, a series Piston and Valve timing were used. To shift the knocking limit to more fuel-efficient operating points, different intake air temperatures were used. The engine behavior was measured in engine maps with a variation of the air-fuel equivalence ratio λ at different loads. Therefore the shift of the knocking limit, the misfiring limit and further parameters were evaluated. Moreover, the characteristic of the combustion process is analyzed at distinctive points and lines for example alongside the TA Luft [1] NOx 500 mg/m3 line or at a constant center of combustion, for each, while varying the air-fuel equivalence ratio λ. In addition, a loss analysis showed the benefits of an increase in load and helps to characterize the high load combustion process.
Eicheldinger, StefanBartkowski, TomasSchröder, AlexanderPrager, Dr.-Ing. MaximilianWachtmeister, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Georg
Specifics of the Combustion Phenomenon Inside a Heavy-Duty Diesel Engine Converted to Natural Gas Lean-Burn Spark Ignition Operation2019-01-222112/19/2019
The conversion of existing diesel engines to natural gas with the least amount of modifications can reduce the dependence on conventional oil and enhance national energy security. This study investigated such engine conversion using an experimental platform that consisted of a single-cylinder diesel engine modified for lean-burn natural-gas spark-ignition operation through the addition of a gas injector and a spark plug. Following steady-state experiments at several operating conditions that changed spark timing, mixture equivalence ratio, and engine speed, the experimental results suggested that the combustion phenomena in diesel engines retrofitted to lean-burn natural gas spark ignition presents significant differences compared to that in a conventional stoichiometric spark ignition engine. For example, the apparent heat release rate inferred from recorded pressure data is the addition of two separate, sequential combustion events: a fast burn inside the piston bowl and a slow event inside the squish region. To model the heat release in such converted engine, each combustion event was approximated to a Gaussian curve, with the total heat release during the engine cycle being the superimposition of the two curves. While this double-peak curve fitting might not accurately capture the physics of the combustion behaviors, it supported the investigation of two distinct combustion stages in such engines.
Liu, JinlongDumitrescu, Cosmin E.Bommisetty, Hemanth
Enhancement of Performance and Emission Characteristics of SI Engine Using Multi Ground Spark Plug with Alcohol Fuel Blends2019-28-015410/11/2019
Limited fossil fuel reserves, steadily rising prices, incremental vehicle population and increased environmental concerns have sparked a need to evaluate alternate fuels for internal combustion engine vehicles. Alcohol fuels with high oxygen content and higher octane number become an attractive option for spark ignition (SI) engines. In practice, there are so many techniques to improve the engine performance and emission characteristics with alcohol and gasoline fuel blends. However, continuous operation of single ground electrode causes erosion of electrodes that loosens its ignitability which intern leads to higher emissions and reduced performance. Hence, there is a need to explore the influence of spark plug design for further improvement in engine performance and emission reduction. This paper provides an insight on the effect of potential alternative fuels like methanol blends and their influence on the performance and emission characteristics of a SI engine using a multi ground electrode spark plug. An experimental investigation on SI engine using various methanol blends like M10 (, M 10 fuel blend consisted of 10% methanol, 87% gasoline and 3% 2T oil), M20, M30 and neat gasoline has been carried out and compared with stock engine at various loads. The significant improvements in performance and emission characteristics are observed. SI engine with multi ground electrode spark plug using M10 fuel blend improved brake thermal efficiency up to 39% in comparison with stock engine. It is also observed that, reduction in carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emissions with M30 blends as 16% and 38% respectively.
Tappa, RajuShaik, AmjadRao, Raghav GopalTalluri, Srinivasa Rao
Emissive Behavior of a Heavy-Duty SI Gas Engine During WHTC2019-24-01219/9/2019
In the arduous aim to reduce petroleum fuel consumption and toxic emissions, gaseous fuels can represent an alternative solution for heavy duty applications with respect to conventional liquid fuels. At the same time, the imposition of more stringent emission regulations in the transport sector, is a crucial aspect to be taken into account during the development of future gas engines. Aim of the present paper was to characterize a heavy duty spark ignition engine, under development for Euro VI compliance, with a particular focus on exhaust particulate emissions. In this sense, the engine was installed on a dynamic test bench, accurately instrumented to analyze combustion evolution, performance and exhaust pollutant emissions, along the World Harmonized Transient Cycle (WHTC). The emissions diagnostic devices included a gas analysis system for the measurement of regulated species, a photo-acoustic sensor and a fast particulate spectrometer for on-line soot, particle number (PN) and particle size measurements, during the transient engine tests. The system layout comprised also a Thermodenuder to provide information on the volatile species contribution to particles emissions. The results reveal a correlation of soot and PN emissions with some specific phases of the test cycle, providing some clues on the source of particles emissions. The paper improves the literature in this field, at present still limited, providing useful information on soot and PN emissions from a heavy duty gas engine at the state of art technology.
Guido, ChiaraFraioli, ValentinaNapolitano, PierpaoloAlfuso, SalvatoreBeatrice, Carlo
Development of a Dedicated CNG Three-Way Catalyst Model in 1-D Simulation Platforms2019-24-00749/9/2019
A growing interest towards heavy-duty engines powered with NG, dictated by stringent regulations in terms of emissions, has made it essential to study a specific Three-Way Catalyst (TWC). Oxygen storage phenomena characterize the catalytic converter efficiency under real world driving operating conditions and, consequently, during strong dynamics in Air-to-Fuel ratio (AFR). A numerical “quasi-steady” model has been set-up to simulate the chemical process inside the reactor. A dedicated experimental campaign has been performed in order to evaluate the catalyst response to a defined λ variation, thus providing the data necessary for the numerical model validation. In fact, goal of the present research activity was to investigate the effect of very fast composition transitions of the engine exhaust typical of the mentioned driving conditions (including fuel cutoffs etc.) on the catalyst performance and on related emissions. A surface reactions kinetic mechanism, representing CH4, CO, H2 oxidation and NO reduction, has been appropriately calibrated in steady-state operation, using a step-by-step procedure all over the engine operating conditions at different AFRs. Then transient conditions were numerically reproduced, through cyclical and consecutive transitions of variable frequency between rich and lean phases. The model includes a proper calibration of the reactions involving Cerium inside the catalyst, in order to reproduce oxygen storage and oxygen release dynamics. Monitoring the reaction rates of the adopted mechanism permitted to evaluate their impact on the exhaust stream composition in several operating conditions. The proposed model predicts tailpipe conversion/formation of the main chemical species starting from experimental engine-out data and provides a useful tool for evaluation of the catalyst performance.
Di Maio, DarioBeatrice, CarloFraioli, ValentinaGolini, StefanoRutigliano, Francesco Giovanni
Hybrid Powertrain Technology Assessment through an Integrated Simulation Approach2019-24-01989/9/2019
Global automotive fuel economy and emissions pressures mean that 48 V hybridisation will become a significant presence in the passenger car market. The complexity of powertrain solutions is increasing in order to further improve fuel economy for hybrid vehicles and maintain robust emissions performance. However, this results in complex interactions between technologies which are difficult to identify through traditional development approaches, resulting in sub-optimal solutions for either vehicle attributes or cost. The results presented in this paper are from a simulation programme focussed on the optimisation of various advanced powertrain technologies on 48 V hybrid vehicle platforms. The technologies assessed include an electrically heated catalyst, an insulated turbocharger, an electric water pump and a thermal management module. The novel simulation approach undertaken uses an integrated toolchain capturing thermal, electrical and mechanical energy usage across all powertrain sub-systems. Through integrating 0-D and 1-D sub-models into a single modelling environment, the operating strategy of the technologies can be optimised while capturing the synergies that exist between them. This approach enables improved and more informed cost/benefit ratios for the technologies to be produced and better attributes by identifying the optimum strategy for the vehicle. The results show the potential for CO2 reductions in the range of 2-5% at no additional cost, through co-optimisation of the technologies in a single simulation environment. The simulation work forms part of the THOMSON project, a collaborative research project aiming to develop cost effective 48 V solutions, in order to reduce the environmental impact of the transportation sector.
Dalby, JoshuaFiquet, FabienWard, AndrewStoffels, HaraldBurke, RichardZaldua-Moreno, NaroaNeveling, MatthiasLiu, YangPace, Lorenzo
CFD Investigation of the Effects of Gas’ Methane Number on the Performance of a Heavy-Duty Natural-Gas Spark-Ignition Engine2019-24-00089/9/2019
Natural gas (NG) is an alternative fuel for spark-ignition engines. In addition to its cleaner combustion, recent breakthroughs in drilling technologies increased its availability and lowered its cost. NG consists of mostly methane, but it also contains heavier hydrocarbons and inert diluents, the levels of which vary substantially with geographical source, time of the year and treatments applied during production or transportation. To investigate the effects of NG composition on engine performance and emissions, a 3D CFD model of a heavy-duty diesel engine retrofitted to NG spark ignition simulated lean-combustion engine operation at low speed and medium load conditions. The work investigated three NG blends with similar lower heating value (i.e., similar energy density) but different Methane Number (MN). The results indicated that a lower MN increased flame propagation speed and thus increased in-cylinder pressure and indicated mean effective pressure. In addition, a low MN increased the thermal efficiency despite the higher heat transfer to the surroundings. Also, a higher MN reduced the nitrogen-oxides emissions but increased unburned hydrocarbons (UHC) emissions. Moreover, while UHC emissions had a similar H/C ratio as the NG, there was no correlation between the carbon monoxide emissions and the fuel H/C ratio.
Ambrogi, LucaLiu, JinlongBattistoni, MicheleDumitrescu, CosminGasbarro, Lorenzo
Assessing Exhaust Toxicity with Biological Detector: Configuration of Portable Air-Liquid Interface Human Lung Cell Model Exposure System, Sampling Train and Test Conditions2019-24-00509/9/2019
Air pollution remains to be one of the leading causes of premature death worldwide, with significant share attributed to particulate matter and reactive nitrogen compounds from mobile sources. Due to discrepancies between legislative metrics and health effects, and between laboratory tests and real driving, health-relevant metric applicable to real driving conditions are sought to evaluate the effects of emerging legislation, technologies and fuels. Models of human lung air-liquid interface have been recently explored to simulate effects of exposure to the whole exhaust. In this study, a compact exposure system, utilizing commercially available inserts with 3D in-vitro model of human lung cells, has been designed and fabricated in-house with the vision of mobile use, minimizing size and power consumption. Preliminary tests were done on a Euro 6 direct injection spark ignition engine operating at speeds and throttle positions corresponding to the WLTC cycle. A sample of diluted exhaust was taken from two systems offering dynamic variation of dilution ratio to account for variable exhaust flow: a proportional sampling gravimetric system and from a rotating disc diluter. As expected, nucleation of ~10 nm particles took place at lower (10:1) dilution ratios, however, low dilution ratios may be necessary as the exposure duration is limited to a maximum of hours to several days. The highest particle losses - around 40 % - were in a membrane humidifier, a part of the effort to maintain incubator conditions of 37 C, 80-95 % relative humidity and around 5 % CO2 at the cells. Two types of cell cultures have been exposed over a period of 5 days, with daily exposure consisting of two runs of WLTC, first with a cold start, active cooling of the engine for two hours, and two additional runs of WLTC, with acceptable rate of cell survival. The compact design and choice of components offers a promise for implementation during common laboratory tests and also on the road.
Vojtisek-Lom, MichalPechout, MartinMacoun, DavidRameswaran, RajeshPraharaj, Kalpita KumarCervena, TerezaTopinka, JanRossner, Pavel
The Methane Fuel Based Turbocharged Direct Injection Engine in a Hybrid Powertrain - An Efficient Synergy2019-24-02019/9/2019
There is no doubt that the modern internal combustion engine (ICE) is approaching its theoretical limits in terms of efficiency. Owed to the fact that the conversion of fuel-bound chemical energy into effectively usable power by combustion is largely defined by the fuel properties, the combustion process and the implicit phenomenon of abnormal combustion is a governing factor that limits further efficiency increases. However, the use of a knock-resistant fuel such as methane is leading to a significant raise in the average combustion pressure and total engine efficiency. In turn this requires a base engine architecture that is specially designed to cater the increased thermal and mechanical requirements so that the positive fuel properties can be fully exploited. Furthermore, an improvement of the energy balance is achieved by utilizing the kinetic energy stored in the vehicle by means of electrical recovery. In consequence, a positive synergy can be observed when mating this type of internal combustion engine to a hybrid powertrain. This hybrid powertrain consists of a P2 hybrid module containing an offset 48V electrical machine and a disconnecting clutch which permits the vehicle to be driven purely electrical, embedded in a board-net comprising an integrated 12V/48V battery solution to address package and complexity reduction requirements. In the light of fuel economy and cost efficiency, the 48V mHEV approach reveals as the most appropriate approach. Following this approach, the study presented in this paper reveals that a CO2 improvement of approximately 35% percent (WLTP) can be achieved while in parallel driveability and user experience can be maintained or even be elevated.
Stoffels, HaraldWeber, CarstenGraf, FriedrichLauer, StefanEhrhard, JanMoretti, ManuelNeveling, Matthias
Knock and Pre-Ignition in Spark-Ignition Engine Fuelled by Different Blends of Jojoba Bio-Gasoline with Kerosene2019-01-50465/17/2019
In the present article, the knock tendency and pre-ignition resistance (PIR) were determined experimentally for different blends of kerosene and jojoba bio-gasoline. The effects of varying equivalence ratios, rotational speed, inlet air temperature and pressure, and ignition timing on knock tendency and PIR were investigated. The influence of compression ratio on PIR was also studied. Jojoba bio-gasoline was synthesized using transesterification method through performing a chemical reaction between well-stirred jojoba raw oil and alcohol. Experiments were carried out on a Ricardo E6/MS variable compression ratio spark-ignition (SI) engine fuelled by jojoba bio-gasoline/kerosene blends of volumetric percentages of 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% jojoba bio-gasoline. The onset of pre-ignition and knock were detected by observing the pressure oscillations using a piezoelectric pressure transducer, a synchronizing magnetic sensor, and a degree-marking probe. The results showed that increasing the percentage of bio-gasoline in the blends with kerosene leads to a significant increase in PIR and a remarkable decrease in the knock tendency. This will lead to the design of a more efficient engine by increasing its compression ratio when fuelled by jojoba bio-gasoline. Analytical correlations were developed to assess the knock tendency and PIR for different fuel blends taking into consideration the various design and operating variables.
Radwan, M.S.Attai, Youssef A.Hassan, Y.I.
Performance, Fuel Economy, and Economic Assessment of a Combustion Concept Employing In-Cylinder Gasoline/Natural Gas Blending for Light-Duty Vehicle Applications03-12-03-00194/25/2019
In current production natural gas/gasoline bi-fuel vehicles, fuels are supplied via port fuel injection (PFI). Injecting a gaseous fuel in the intake port significantly reduces the volumetric efficiency and consequently torque as compared to gasoline. In addition to eliminating the volumetric efficiency challenge, direct injection (DI) of natural gas (NG) can enhance the in-cylinder flow, mixing, and combustion process resulting in improved efficiency and performance. A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approach to model high-pressure gaseous injection was developed and validated against X-ray data from Argonne’s Advanced Photon Source. NG side and central DI of various designs and injection strategies were assessed experimentally along with CFD correlation. Significant effects on combustion metrics were quantified and explained via improved understanding of the in-cylinder flow effects due to NG injection. On-demand in-cylinder blending using E10 PFI and NG DI provides an additional lever to adjust in-cylinder turbulence as well as knock resistance across the engine speed and load range. NG DI improves part-load dilution tolerance due to higher in-cylinder turbulence and the high knock resistance of NG compared to E10 improves wide open throttle (WOT) performance while enabling increased compression ratios (CR). Vehicle level simulations suggest that implementing this strategy on a ½ ton pick-up truck with a naturally aspirated engine at 12.5:1 CR improves energy consumption on the aggressive US06 drive cycle by 15.5% compared to E10 operation, and gives a petroleum reduction of 78% over the blended range. There are challenges regarding market acceptance and widespread adoption of dual-fuel NG-gasoline vehicle applications beyond the performance degradation when the vehicle runs out of natural gas. Those challenges include practical concerns such as loss of cargo volume and payload due to the NG storage tank, extended NG refueling times, fueling convenience due to gasoline and NG fuel tanks, and limited NG fueling infrastructure.
Wallner, ThomasPamminger, MichaelScarcelli, RiccardoPowell, ChristopherSimeu, Severin KamguiaWooldridge, StevenBoyer, BradIqbal, AsimReese, Ron
Development of a Natural Gas Engine with Diesel Engine-like Efficiency Using Computational Fluid Dynamics2019-01-02254/2/2019
Present day natural gas engines have a significant efficiency disadvantage but benefit with low carbon-dioxide emissions and cheap three-way catalysis aftertreatment. The aim of this work is to improve the efficiency of a natural gas engine on par with a diesel engine. A Cummins-Westport ISX12-G (diesel) engine is used for the study. A baseline model is validated in three-dimensional Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). The challenge of this project is adapting the diesel engine for the natural gas fuel, so that the increased squish area of the diesel engine piston can be used to accomplish faster natural gas burn rates. A further increase efficiency is achieved by switching to D-EGR technology. D-EGR is a concept where one or more cylinders are run with excess fueling and its exhaust stream, containing H2 and CO, is cooled and fed into the intake stream. With D-EGR although there is an in-cylinder presence of a reactive H2-CO reformate, there is also higher levels of dilution. A new piston was designed that can match the high squish burn rates with not much impact from higher dilution and take advantage of the H2-CO reformate at the same time. The new piston design has a 33% reduced squish area ratio and resulted in a 5.5% point increase in indicated thermal efficiency with D-EGR. Additional efficiency improvement of 2.6% is obtained by increasing the compression ratio by 1.5 points, bringing the total ITE improvement percentage to 8.1%. The goal of the project is to obtain a 10% improvement in efficiency while achieving 0.027 g/kW-hr NOx emissions.
Moiz, Ahmed AbdulAbidin, ZainalMitchell, RobertKocsis, Michael
The Impact of Engine Displacement on Efficiency Loss Pathways in a Highly Dilute Jet Ignition Engine2019-01-03304/2/2019
Internal combustion engines currently face increasing regulatory reform which has motivated investigation of alternative combustion modes, particularly for spark ignition engines. Fuel economy regulations, among others, are presently driving the need for technological advances in the automotive sector. Stationary power generation is facing emissions standards that will be increasingly difficult to achieve with combustion-based current practices, particularly in the case of nitrogen oxides (NOx). Ultra-lean (λ > ~1.6; air-fuel ratio > 23:1) combustion via air dilution is one such combustion mode that provides the benefits of reduced fuel consumption and reduced NOx emissions. Jet ignition is a pre-chamber-based combustion system that enables enleanment beyond what is achievable with traditional spark ignition engines. Previous studies of MAHLE’s Jet Ignition® concept have primarily focused on light-duty gasoline engines. With increasing demand for fuel flexibility, particularly in power generation, and smaller engine displacement for range extender engines in automotive hybrid applications, it is important to characterize how the performance of this technology translates to other fuels and engine displacements. This paper highlights results from a 390cc, high efficiency single-cylinder engine operating ultra-lean. The engine serves as a research platform for jet ignition fueled by compressed natural gas (CNG). The primary intended application is stationary power generation1 but it is possible to ultimately extend the concept to automotive range extender applications as well given the similar two-valve configuration and cylinder displacement. An efficiency loss breakdown based on Thermodynamic First Law analysis is performed, showing that many loss pathways are found to be heavily dependent on λ. Efficiency and emissions trends are compared with results from a larger displacement stand-alone light-duty gasoline engine also utilizing jet ignition. The comparison provides insight into how parameters such as fuel and displacement affect energy loss pathways. A fuel energy breakdown of the multi-cylinder gasoline engine reveals many of the same patterns with enleanment observed with the single-cylinder CNG engine. Jet ignition and its performance in relation to engine geometry and fuel are found to alter the magnitude in which the efficiency losses change with enleanment, while preserving the same general overall trends.
Peters, NathanBunce, MichaelBlaxill, Hugh
The Emission of a Diesel Engine in Different Coolant Temperature during Cold Start at High Altitude2019-01-07304/2/2019
Emissions of diesel engine have been received much more attention since the Volkswagen Emission Scandal. The Euro VI emission standard has already included cold start emissions in the legislative emission driving cycles which is one of the hardest part of emission control. High altitude performance is also considered in the latest regulations which will be stricter in the future. Heating the coolant is one of the most common method to improve the cold start performance. But researches focus on the emission of a diesel engine in different coolant temperature at high altitude which up to 4500m have not been seen. The present research investigated the effect of coolant temperature on performance and exhaust emissions (gaseous and particulate emissions) during the cold start of a diesel engine. A plateau simulation system controlled the inlet and exhaust pressure to create altitude environments from 0m to 4500m, and the coolant temperature was controlled from 20°C to 60°C. The engine started up faster with as coolant temperature increased at each altitude. As the coolant temperature increased, the CO and THC emissions reached a higher peak and a lower total emission during the first 30 seconds. The CO2 emission did not change obviously at different coolant temperatures. The NOX emission was decreased as the coolant temperature increased, but went much higher when it was up to 60°C, which was just opposite of the particulate number (PN) and particulate number (PN) emission characteristics. At the same coolant temperature, higher gaseous and particulate emissions were observed at higher altitude. The PN and PM diameter distributions were analyzed and the relationship between PN and PM during cold start at different coolant temperature and altitude were established. Coolant temperature affects the engine transient emission and cold start performance obviously.
Fang, LiangLou, DimingHu, ZhiyuanTan, Piqiang
Particle Emission Measurements in a SI CNG Engine Using Oils with Controlled Ash Content2019-01-00531/15/2019
Clean combustion is one of the inherent benefits of using a high methane content fuel, natural gas or biogas. A single carbon atom in the fuel molecule results, to a large extent, in particle-free combustion. This is due to the high energy required for binding multiple carbon atoms together during the combustion process, required to form soot particles. When scaling up this process and applying it in the internal combustion engine, the resulting emissions from the engine have not been observed to be as particle free as the theory on methane combustion indicates. These particles stem from the combustion of engine oil and its ash content. One common practice has been to lower the ash content to regulate the particulate emissions, as was done for diesel engines. For a gas engine, this approach has been difficult to apply, as the piston and valvetrain lubrication becomes insufficient. However, the low particle emissions from the combustion of CNG does allow for an investigation of particle contribution from engine oil ash content with only a minor particle contribution from the fuel itself. The hypothesis for this study is that there is a relationship between the engine oil ash content and the particulate emissions from a CNG engine. The investigation was conducted for several operating points with varying engine speeds and load on a single cylinder engine. The single cylinder approach was chosen to reduce sources of engine oil intrusion in the combustion chamber. The obtained results were not in line with the hypothesis, the particle emissions from the lower ash content oil did not decrease in number but the size of the particles did. The results also showed a spiking behavior in the particulate emissions, originating from the lubrication oil consumption past the piston rings. Mass flow through the engine proved to affect the particle size distribution as well as the total number of particles for all levels of oil ash content.
Adlercreutz, LudvigCronhjort, AndreasStenlaas, Ola
Improving Combustion and Emission Characteristics in Heavy-Duty Natural-Gas Engine by Using Pistons Enhancing Turbulence2018-01-16859/10/2018
Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), because of its low cost, high H/C ratio, and high octane number, has great potential in automotive industry, especially for heavy-duty commercial vehicles. However, relative slow flame speed of natural gas leads to long combustion duration and low thermal efficiency and tends to cause knock combustion at high load, which will aggravate engine thermal load and reliability. Enhancing turbulence intensity in combustion chamber is an effective way to accelerate flame propagation speed and improve combustion performance. In this study, the flow simulations of several piston bowls with different inner-convex forms were carried out using three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (3D-CFD) software CONVERGE. The numerical results showed the piston bowls with inner-convex could disturb the charge swirl motion and enhance turbulence of different intensity. A hexagram geometry bowl was proved to have the best function in strengthening turbulence intensity. Hence then the combustion processes were calculated based on the original and hexagram bowl. The simulation results suggested hexagram bowl enabled faster burning-rate than original bowl. Lastly, the comparative experiments were conducted at 1000 rpm and 6.5, 12 and 15 bar indicated mean effective pressure (IMEP) loads between the hexagram piston and original piston in the single-cylinder natural-gas engine. The test results indicated the hexagram piston presented approximate 1.8% higher indicated thermal efficiency (ITE) and total hydrocarbon (THC) emission reduced by 60% at 15 bar IMEP load lean burn condition compared to the original piston. However, at 6.5 bar IMEP load stoichiometric combustion, the hexagram piston exhibited about 1.5% lower ITE and poorer THC and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emission characteristics than the original piston, which required further optimization to improve in the future research.
Li, FubaiLiu, ChangpengSong, HepingWang, Zhi
In-Use Efficiency of Oxidation and Three-Way Catalysts Used in High-Horsepower Dual Fuel and Dedicated Natural Gas Engines03-11-03-00267/1/2018
Directional drilling rigs and hydraulic stimulation equipment typically use diesel fueled compression ignition (CI) engines. The majority of these engines are compliant with US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Tier 2 standards. To reduce fuel costs, industry is investing in dual fuel (DF) and dedicated natural gas (DNG) engines. DF engines use diesel oxidation catalysts (DOCs) to reduce CO and NMHC emissions. DNG engines may be either lean-burn or rich-burn and the latter uses three-way catalysts (TWC) to reduce CO, NMHC, and NOx emissions. This research presents in-use catalyst efficiency data collected pre- and post-catalyst for three DF engines and two DNG engines. One DF engine was converted earlier and did not include a DOC. Data were collected from six Tier 2 engines, two CI drilling engines converted to operate as DF, two CI hydraulic fracturing engines converted to operate as DF, and two SI DNG drilling engines. DF engines with DOCs were able to reduce CO and NMHC during DF operation by >90 and >50%, respectively. The DOCs did not reduce methane and NOx emissions. One DNG catalyst did not effectively reduce emissions. Properly functioning DNG engines and TWCs decreased engine out CO, NMHC, and NOx emissions all by >90%. It is important to note that DOCs could be added to Tier 2 diesel engines regardless of combustion mode to reduce engine out NMHC and CO emissions. DNG engines offered the lowest NOx emissions, which could be important in certain air districts. Research should focus on improved oxidation of methane emissions from DF engines to realize any benefit of reduced of GHG emissions.
Johnson, DerekDarzi, MahdiClark, NigelNix, AndrewHeltzel, Robert
Challenges for Spark Ignition Engines in Heavy Duty Application: a Review2018-01-09074/3/2018
Spark Ignition (SI) engines operating on stoichiometric mixtures can employ a simple three-way catalyst as after-treatment to achieve low tailpipe emissions unlike diesel engines. This makes heavy duty (HD) SI engines an attractive proposition for low capital cost and potentially low noise engines, if the power density and efficiency requirement could be met. Specific torque at low speeds is limited in SI engines due to knock. In HD engines, the higher flame travel distances associated with higher bore diameters exacerbates knock due to increased residence time of the end gas. This report reviews the challenges in developing HD SI engines to meet current diesel power density. It also focuses on methods to mitigate them in order to achieve high thermal efficiency while running on stoichiometric condition. High octane renewable fuels are seen as a key enabler to achieve the performance level required in such applications. Apart from higher octane rating, the effect of higher latent heat of vaporization in liquid alcohol fuels was found to be beneficial in all operating conditions as it tended to reduce in-cylinder temperature and associated heat loss of the engine. Exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) was seen to be beneficial both at full load in limiting knock and part load conditions to decrease pumping losses. Increased in-cylinder turbulence was also seen to be beneficial in limiting knock as it reduces residence time of the end gas. Results and trends of combinations of these factors are discussed with respect to increasing engine specific torque and efficiency. The effect on emissions and part load conditions is included where results are available and gaps in knowledge are presented.
Mahendar, Senthil KrishnanErlandsson, AndersAdlercreutz, Ludvig
Infrared Borescopic Evaluation of High-Energy and Long-Duration Ignition Systems for Lean/Dilute Combustion in Heavy-Duty Natural-Gas Engines2018-01-11494/3/2018
Natural gas (NG) is attractive for heavy-duty (HD) engines for reasons of cost stability, emissions, and fuel security. NG cannot be reliably compression-ignited, but conventional gasoline ignition systems are not optimized for NG and are challenged to ignite mixtures that are lean or diluted with exhaust-gas recirculation (EGR). NG ignition is particularly challenging in large-bore engines, where completing combustion in the available time is more difficult. Using two high-speed infrared (IR) cameras with borescopic access to one cylinder of an HD NG engine, the effect of ignition system on the early flame-kernel development and cycle-to-cycle variability (CCV) was investigated. Imaging in the IR yielded strong signals from water emission lines, which located the flame front and burned-gas regions and obviated image intensifiers. A 9.7-liter, six-cylinder engine was modified to enable exhaust-gas recirculation and to provide optical access. Three ignition technologies were studied: a conventional system delivering 65 mJ of energy to each spark, a high-energy conventional system delivering 140 mJ, and a Bosch Controlled Electronic Ignition (CEI) system. CEI uses electronics to extend the ignition event, yielding sparks up to 5 ms in duration with up to 300 mJ of energy. Air/fuel equivalence ratios, λ, as high as 1.6 (with minimum EGR) and EGR fractions as high as 23% (stoichiometric) were tested; ignition delay, engine-out emissions, fuel consumption and image-derived parameters were compared. In most lean or dilute cases, the 140-mJ system yielded the lowest CCV. The imagery provided information about the early stages of ignition and combustion, where pressure measurements are not reliable. Image-based metrics also revealed that early flame kernels located further from the head yielded better combustion, showing that borescopic IR imaging can provide guidance for future engine design.
Mazacioglu, AhmetGross, MichaelKern, JustinSick, Volker
Durability Studies on Gas Engine Oil along with Performance and Emission Characteristics of Heavy Duty Turbocharged Natural Gas Powered Engine2018-01-06384/3/2018
Natural gas has been considered and implemented as alternative fuel to gasoline and diesel powered vehicles worldwide. Although natural gas belongs to petroleum fuel family, it has considerable recourses worldwide to ensure long energy security and comparatively lower carbon to hydrogen ratio that make it more environment friendly. This paper presents the effect of long duration endurance test on gas engine oil along with performance and emission characteristics of 5.8 L turbocharged heavy duty natural gas engine. The six cylinder engine was chosen due to its importance for urban bus transportation. The engine was subjected to long duration endurance test of 800 hrs with closed loop monitoring and controlled conditions as per 6 mode engine load cycle. During the complete endurance test of 800 hours, performance and emission characteristics of the engine were analyzed after completion of every 100 hours as per Full Throttle Performance Test and European Transient Cycle (ETC). Also, engine oil sampling and analysis along with oil consumption were undertaken after completion of every 100 hrs. The durability studies were performed on state of the art transient engine dynamometer having sophisticated emission measurement facilities. Subsequently, the engine oil performance was evaluated in field trials. The performance parameters of the engine lubricant such as kinematic viscosity @ 100 deg C, kinematic viscosity @ 40 deg C, viscosity index, Total Base Number (TBN), Oxidation and Nitration over the complete endurance test of 800 hrs were within the permissible limits. Wear elements like Pb, Sn, Fe, Si and Cr were within limits over the period of endurance test of 800 hrs. However, there was increase observed in Al and Cu. During the endurance test of 800 hrs, it is observed that regulated emissions carbon monooxide (CO), total hydro carbon (THC), methane (CH4) and particle number (PN) increases marginally while no significant change is observed in nitrogen oxide (NOx). Test results indicates that over the period of endurance test of 800 hrs, all the major exhaust emissions species such as CO, THC, CH4 & NOx emissions were lower than the Euro IV emission norms for the heavy duty engines and there were no significant changes in the carbon dioxide (CO2) values. The actual field data shows the improvement in the engine oil drain period interval.
Singh, SauhardMishra, S KBathla, V KMathai, RejiSingh, Shyamsaxena, DeepakRamakumar, SSVSenthilkumar, GSathyanandan, MMahesh, P
Experimental and Numerical Analysis of Diluted Combustion in a Direct Injection CNG Engine Featuring Post- Euro-VI Fuel Consumption Targets2018-01-11424/3/2018
The present paper is concerned with part of the work performed by Renault, IFPEN and Politecnico di Torino within a research project founded by the European Commission. The project has been focused on the development of a dedicated CNG engine featuring a 25% decrease in fuel consumption with respect to an equivalent Diesel engine with the same performance targets. To that end, different technologies were implemented and optimized in the engine, namely, direct injection, variable valve timing, LP EGR with advanced turbocharging, and diluted combustion. With specific reference to diluted combustion, it is rather well established for gasoline engines whereas it still poses several critical issues for CNG ones, mainly due to the lower exhaust temperatures. Moreover, dilution is accompanied by a decrease in the laminar burning speed of the unburned mixture and this generally leads to a detriment in combustion efficiency and stability. The optimization of in-cylinder turbulence plays a fundamental role in compensating this trend. The present paper is specifically focused on the characterization of the diluted combustion in the direct injection engine. The results of an experimental activity have been presented, aimed at characterizing the in-cylinder combustion process and the exhaust temperatures at 2000 rpm and variable load, both without dilution and with 20% of external EGR. At the same time, a 3-D numerical model for the in-cylinder turbulence and combustion simulation has been developed in Converge. The model embeds a user-specified laminar-flame speed submodel, which was derived from a 1-D combustion simulation model with detailed chemistry. The model has been calibrated against experimental data and then used to characterize the heat release dependence on the dilution. The experimental activity has evidenced the potential of EGR to increase the engine efficiency, by allowing to increase the boost level at full load and by reducing pumping losses at partial load. As far as the maximum allowed EGR rate is concerned, the CFD activity showed that the limit can be detected on the basis of a threshold value of the MFB0-50 interval. At 2000 rpm and medium load the maximum EGR rate ranged around 35% and showed an increasing trend versus load. It also demonstrated a decreasing trend against the engine speed.
Baratta, MirkoMisul, DanielaGoel, PrashantLaurenzano, DaniloLecointe, BetrandRouleau, LoicRavet, FredericChristou, Panagiotis
Fuel Composition Effects in a CI Engine Converted to SI Natural Gas Operation2018-01-11374/3/2018
Low-carbon fuels such as natural gas (NG) have the potential to lower the demand of petroleum-based fuels, reduce engine-out emissions, and increase IC engine thermal efficiency. One of the most rapid and efficient use of NG in the transportation sector would be as a direct replacement of the diesel fuel in compression ignition (CI) engines without any major engine modifications to the combustion chamber such as new pistons and/or engine head. An issue is the large variation in NG composition with the location and age of the gas well across U.S., which would affect engine operation, as well as the technology integration with emissions after treatment systems. This study used a conventional CI engine modified for spark ignition (SI) NG operation to investigate the effects of methane and a C1-C4 alkane blend on main combustion parameters like in-cylinder pressure, apparent heat release rate, IMEP, etc. Steady-state engine experiments were conducted at several operating conditions that changed spark timing, engine speed, and equivalence ratio. The study found that NG operation increased peak pressure, IMEP, and indicated thermal efficiency compared to methane, for all the operating conditions investigated in this work. This suggests caution when translating methane-based experimental observations to real world NG operation, even for NG with mostly methane as the one used in this work. As many NG studies in the literature used methane as an NG surrogate, a better understanding of real fuel effects in diesel-like combustion environments could be important for the successful conversion of conventional diesel engines to NG operation.
Bommisetty, HemanthLiu, JinlongKooragayala, RahulDumitrescu, Cosmin
In this article, the results of experiments to determine the effects of silicon-containing compounds in biogas on the performance of spark-ignited gas engines for use in CNG vehicles are presented. Initial research was performed on micro-CHP units, which have many features common with automotive engines, to identify engine components sensitive for silica deposition prior to investigating a practical CNG engine. The experiments on the micro-CHP units revealed that the catalyst was the most sensitive part for silica fouling, with strong impact on the reduction of NOx. With the insight gained from these experiments, an 9-week endurance test was performed on a light-duty CNG vehicle. While the wideband-type lambda sensor originally installed upstream of the catalyst did not fail during the test, an additional switching-type lambda sensor positioned upstream of the catalyst was found to be most sensitive to silica deposition, causing a false signal regarding the oxygen content in the exhaust gas (“failure”). In contrast to the micro-CHP test, the catalyst used in the CNG vehicle was not affected by silica deposition under the experimental conditions used. Micro-CHP experiments revealed that different catalyst types can show different sensitivity towards silica deposition, which explain the relative robustness of the vehicle catalyst regarding silica deposition. Investigation of the performance of the different catalysts used in the market for CNG vehicles is required to quantify the potential impact of siloxanes in biomethane on the installed fleet.
van Essen, MartijnVisser, PieterGersen, SanderLevinsky, Howard
Flame Propagation Study in a Single-Cylinder Research Engine with Gaseous Fuel2017-36-035911/7/2017
Pressures on vehicle manufacturers to reduce emissions have resulted in an increased interest to improve fuel economy and enable use of fuels developed from renewable sources that can achieve a net reduction in the CO2 output per vehicle. The use of bio-gas fuels in internal combustion engines has become a real alternative to traditional liquid fuels derived from petroleum. To extract the maximum benefits from these emergent fuels through optimized engine design and calibration, a deep understanding of the behavior is necessary. The combustion process of a single cylinder research engine with optical access, four stroke PFI-SI, was experimentally investigated. High spatial resolution cycle resolved digital imaging, in the visible and UV spectral range was used to characterize the flame front propagation. A post-processing routine was developed to evaluate flame areas and various local and global morphology characteristics to have a detail understanding of the flame behavior in an engine combustion chamber. The engine was fueled with Methane as baseline fuel and compared with an equivalent syngas mixture (blend of hydrogen, methane, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and nitrogen). It was operated at 900 rev/min, under partial load condition. For the equivalent syngas blend the results suggest an increase in the combustion duration. The flame speed propagation was higher to methane, with a difference of 1.9 m/s. Also both fuels present a preferential flame center movement in direction of the intake valves, and the average curvature was negative. The cyclic variations in the combustion process were around 1% for syngas and 0.5% for methane, indicating a stable combustion process.
Boggio, Santiago Daniel MartinezLacava, Pedro TexeiraSilva, Maycon FerreiraSbampato, Maria EstherSantos, Leila RibeiroPeñaranda, AlexanderRisso, Pedro Luiz Curto
Experimental and Kinetic Analyses of Thermochemical Fuel Reforming (TFR) with Alcohol Enrichment in Plug Flow Reactor: a Verification of In-Cylinder TFR2017-01-227810/8/2017
In-cylinder thermochemical fuel reforming (TFR) in spark ignition natural gas engine was developed to reveal that thermochemical fuel reforming could increase H2 and CO concentration in reformed gas, leading to an increase of thermal efficiency and engine performance. Moreover, ethanol enrichment has been proved to have great potential to optimize TFR performance. In order to explain TFR phenomenon chemically, methane oxidation experiments were conducted in a laminar flow reactor with addition of ethanol and methanol at equivalent ratios of 1.5, 1.7, 1.9 and 2.1 from 948K to 1098K at atmospheric pressure. Experimental results showed that methanol have great ability to facilitate the oxidation of methane than that of ethanol. Meanwhile, the degree of methane conversion became more significantly as the equivalent ratio increased. Kinetic analysis of oxidation of methane with alcohol enrichment in a plug flow model was also conducted in this study. There was good agreement between experimental and computational results. The oxidation of methanol or ethanol released plenty of radicals such as H, OH and HO2, which further reacted with CH4 more intensively in fuel rich condition. Rate of production and sensitivity analyses showed that methanol could produce more reactive radicals, which were involved in a series of initial oxidation reactions of methane. It indicated that methanol have great potential to improve in-cylinder TFR performance.
Deng, ZhiweiLi, AngZhu, LeiHuang, Zhen
Development of CNG/Diesel Dual-Compatible Engine Oil for Heavy-Duty Trucks in Thailand2017-01-235010/8/2017
In Thailand, most heavy-duty trucks were equipped with diesel engine, while a small portion was equipped with compressed natural gas (CNG) engine. However, in the past few years the number of CNG fuel trucks in Thailand has increased significantly due to the cheaper cost of CNG. In general, the emphasis of heavy-duty diesel engine oil performance is on piston cleanliness and soot handling properties, while thermal and anti-oxidation properties are most critical for CNG engine oil performance. For truck fleet owners who operate both types of trucks, using the inappropriate oil that is not fit-for-purpose can adversely affect engine performance and reduce engine service lifespan under prolonged usage. A novel CNG/diesel engine oil was developed to meet both JASO DH-2 heavy-duty diesel engine oil performance and CNG engine oil performance. The candidate formulation was proved adequately fit for practical use regarding to thermal and anti-oxidation properties. Engine durability tests were conducted for 4-liter and 8-liter of diesel engines with 8-liter of CNG engine. Top Groove Fill (TGF), Weighted Total Demerit (WTD) as piston cleanliness and used-oil properties were measured. It was further demonstrated that the Komatsu hot tube deposit bench test correlated well with 8-liter diesel engine durability test. A field-trial was conducted on commercially operated diesel and CNG trucks in Thailand. The developed SAE 15W-40 viscosity grade engine oil exhibited no harm in both diesel and CNG trucks throughout the entire field-trial.
Wongtaewan, ChalermwutWongjareonpanit, UmapornSivara, KomkritHashimoto, KenNakamura, Yoichiro
Studies on the Impact of Isooctyl Nitrate on Diesel Engine Combustion Process in Plateau Environment2017-01-229010/8/2017
When operating at high elevation of 3700m (atmospheric pressure about 68 kPa), the combustion process of diesel engine deteriorates, and the engine performance declines significantly. In this paper, Isooctyl Nitrate(EHN) is blended into the diesel fuel as additive to improve the combustion process. The decomposition of Isooctyl Nitrate(EHN) is analyzed and its mechanism is studied through chemical kinetics. A series of tests were carried out on a single cylinder diesel engine to study the effects of EHN on diesel engine combustion with the low intake pressure of 68kPa. Results show that the generation of OH、 H、 HO2 and H2O2 in n-heptane cleavage reactions can be promoted by EHN. In both stages of low and high temperature, the decomposition of n-heptane is accelerated, which shortened the ignition delay period. Four kinds of fuel are studied by tests: diesel fuel, diesel fuel with 0.3%, 0.6% and 0.9% mass fraction EHN respectively. Compared with diesel fuel, the peak cylinder pressure decreases 0.06 MPa, 0.09 MPa, 0.13 MPa with different amounts of EHN under low intake pressure condition. The peak value of Instantaneous Heat Release Rate decreases 5.0%, 8.0%, 9.8%, and the curve of Instantaneous Heat Release Rate moves forward 0.4 °CA, 0.8 °CA, 1.1 °CA. In addition, engine output torque increases, while Brake Specific Fuel Consumption decreases. The dynamic property and fuel economy of diesel engine are improved.
Sun, ZhixinYang, ShaoqingQiao, XinyongZhang, Zhiyuan
Effect of Pilot Diesel Multiple Injections on the Performance and the Emissions of a Diesel/Natural Gas Dual Fuel Heavy-Duty Engine2017-01-227110/8/2017
For diesel/natural gas dual fuel engines, the combustion of pilot diesel injection plays an important role to subsequent mixture combustion process. To better understand the effects of multiple injections, a detailed study was conducted on a 6-cylinder turbocharged intercooler diesel/natural gas dual fuel heavy-duty engine at low loads. Multiple variables were tested, including the single injection timings, the multiple injections timings and the mass ratios. The investigated results showed that the multiple pilot diesel injections have an obvious effect on not only pilot diesel combustion process but also natural gas mixture combustion process. Early injection leads to a pilot-diesel-ignition-mode and it is a two-stage auto ignition mode. This mode differs from the compression ignition mode of traditional diesel engine in regard to its random occurrence location within the spray. Engine combustion and emissions characteristics, including cylinder pressure, heat release rate, start of combustion (SOC), ignition delay, crank angle of 50% heat release (CA50), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and total hydrocarbon (THC) are examined in this study with completely different variation trends of the multiple injections mode being shown. Overall, a higher thermal efficiency and a lower emission level can be achieved with the multiple injections when compared to the conventional single injection mode.
Wang, ZhongshuShao, MingyangLi, MingWang, DanLiu, Zhongchang
The Effects of Ethanol-Butanol Ratio on the Droplet Behavior During Impact onto a Heated Surface2017-01-228910/8/2017
Droplets impacting onto the heated surface is a typical phenomenon either in CI engines or in GDI SI engines, which is regarded significant for their air-fuel mixing. Meanwhile, alcohols including ethanol and butanol, has been widely studied as internal combustion engine alternative fuels due to their excellent properties. In this paper, under different component ratio conditions, the ethanol-butanol droplet impacting onto the heated aluminum surface has been studied experimentally. The falling height of the droplets were set at 5cm. A high-speed camera, set at 512×512pixels, 5000 fps and 20 μs of exposure time, was used to visualize the droplet behavior impinging onto the hot aluminum surface. The impact regimes of the binary droplet were identified. The result showed that the Leidenfrost temperature of droplets was affected by the ratio of ethanol to butanol. The higher the content of butanol in the droplet, the higher the Leidenfrost temperature. Meanwhile, it was found that the resident time of the droplet impacting onto the heated surface increased with the increasing of the butanol content in the droplet. In addition, the dry satellite rebounding impact pattern, one of the five droplet impact pattern, was studied. The results showed that the number of the smaller droplet separated from the conical part increased with the increasing of the butanol content in the droplet.
Cen, ChunzeWu, HanLee, Chia-FonHao, ShuxinLiu, FushuiLi, Yikai
Numerical Simulations of Mixture Formation in Combustion Chambers of Lean-Burn Natural Gas Engines Incorporating a Sub-Chamber2017-01-228010/8/2017
The aim of this study is to clarify the mixture formation in the combustion chamber of our developed natural gas engine incorporating the sub-chamber injection system, in which natural gas is directly injected into a combustion sub-chamber in order to completely separate rich mixture in the sub-chamber, suitable for ignition, from ultra-lean mixture in the main chamber. Mixture distributions in chambers with and without sub-chamber were numerically simulated at a variety of operating conditions. The commercial software of Fluent 16.0 was used to conduct simulations based on Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes equations in an axial 2 dimensional numerical domain considering movements of piston. Non-reactive flow in the combustion chamber was simulated before the ignition timing at an engine speed of 2000 rpm. The turbulence model employed here is standard k-ε model. Air-fuel ratio is set with a lean condition of 30. The results obtained from the numerical simulations demonstrate higher equivalence ratio in the sub-chamber than that in the main chamber, which extends the lean limit at engine operations. Furthermore, existing probability of mixture with low equivalence ratio is higher than that without the sub-chamber, which is an evidence of lower NOx emissions from test engines incorporating the sub-chamber. On the other hand, high equivalence ratio mixture remains in the squish area of the main chamber when the sub-chamber is installed. The unburned fuels in the squish area probably cause high hydrocarbon emissions from engines, observed during engine tests. In addition, the retarded timing of injection end results in the accumulation of fuel in the sub-chamber, increasing the equivalence ratio of mixture existing in the sub-chamber. The high hydrocarbon emissions observed during engine tests under retard conditions are due to the deterioration of ignitability resulting from the richer mixture.
Nada, YuzuruMorimoto, SoKidoguchi, YoshiyukiKaya, RyuNakano, HideakiKobayashi, Shinichi
Development of a High Performance Natural Gas Engine with Direct Gas Injection and Variable Valve Actuation2017-24-01529/4/2017
Natural gas is a promising alternative fuel for internal combustion engine application due to its low carbon content and high knock resistance. Performance of natural gas engines is further improved if direct injection, high turbocharger boost level, and variable valve actuation (VVA) are adopted. Also, relevant efficiency benefits can be obtained through downsizing. However, mixture quality resulting from direct gas injection has proven to be problematic. This work aims at developing a mono-fuel small-displacement turbocharged compressed natural gas engine with side-mounted direct injector and advanced VVA system. An injector configuration was designed in order to enhance the overall engine tumble and thus overcome low penetration. Gas injection, interaction thereof with charge motion and geometrical bounding walls, and the resultant mixture formation process was investigated in detail by the combination of planar laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) in an optical engine and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis with moving injector model to verify the design of the injector and combustion chamber. Then a prototype engine was tested to compare the rated torque against target performance. The planar LIF investigation underlined the influence of the Coandǎ effect whereby the gas jet was deflected to the adjacent injector niche and then to the combustion chamber roof. Such effect was inhibited at early injection timings due to strong intake air flow. CFD analysis confirmed this behavior and pointed out that the mixing process is dominated by the gas jet during injection and flow patterns promoted by it. It was concluded that the principal mixing mechanism is the jet-promoted tumble and elliptical swirl motion, and the mixing rate is thereby scaled with absolute time, rather than crank angle degree, and mainly determined by the strength of these two motion patterns. It was in addition found that the injection contributes to combustion-relevant turbulence mainly by intensifying the large-scale charge motion. Overall high mixing capacity was observed, and the injector and combustion chamber design deemed efficacious. The engine design has been successfully accomplished and the prototype multi-cylinder engine (MCE) is ready for extensive performance and emission analysis on the test rig.
Baratta, MirkoMisul, DanielaXu, JiajieFuerhapter, AloisHeindl, RenePeletto, CesarePreuhs, JeanSalemi, Patrick
Experimental Investigations on the Sources of Particulate Emission within a Natural Gas Spark-Ignition Engine2017-24-01419/4/2017
The aim of the present work is to provide further guidance into better understanding the production mechanisms of soot emissions in Spark-Ignition SI engines fueled with compressed natural gas. In particular, extensive experimental investigations were designed with the aim to isolate the contribution of the fuel from that of lubricant oil to particle emissions. This because the common thought is that particulate emerging from the engine derives mainly from fuel, otherwise the contribute of lubricant oil cannot be neglected or underestimated, especially when the fuel itself produces low levels of soot emissions, such as in the case of premixed natural gas. The fuel-derived contribution was studied by analyzing the influence that natural gas composition has on soot emitted from a single cylinder Spark-Ignition (SI) engine. To achieve this purpose, methane/propane mixtures were realized and injected into the intake manifold of a Single-Cylinder SI engine. The results were compared with pure methane and propane, as well as with natural gas. The lubricant-derived contribution was investigated by injecting lubricant oil either into the intake manifold or directly within the combustion chamber of an optically-accessible version of the engine, requiring no lubrication, in order to mimic the different ways by which lubricant may reach the combustion chamber. The influence on soot emission was assessed in terms of particle number and size distributions. Gaseous emissions and engine performance were also analyzed in order to globally monitor the combustion process. The results indicated that variations in propane content can have strong effects on both performance and emissions. In all tests, natural gas showed the highest PN values. In addition, the results demonstrated that the number of ultrafine particles was very sensitive to the propane fraction at high speeds, because adding propane increased the number of particles between 5 and 30 nm. The effect of feeding the extra lubricant oil was to increase the particles emitted in the lowest range size, independent of the way it was added within the engine.
Amirante, RiccardoDistaso, EliaDi Iorio, SilvanaPettinicchio, DavideSementa, PaoloTamburrano, PaoloVaglieco, Bianca Maria
Simulation Research on the Combustion Characteristics of Lean-Burn Natural Gas Engine under Different Ignition Timings and Ignition Energies2017-24-00649/4/2017
A CFD model of natural gas engine was established, and working process from intake stroke to combustion stroke was simulated in this paper. Based on the validation of CFD model through experimental method, the combustion characteristics of lean-burn natural gas engine are studied under different ignition timings and different ignition energies. Results indicate that, the in-cylinder indicated mean effective pressure increases with the ignition timing advancing from 22°CA BTDC to 32°CA BTDC at the same load level. Meanwhile, the heat release rate is increased by 23.18J/°CA and its peak phase is advanced by 9°CA. The peak pressure is also increased by 45.95% and its phase is advanced by 4.5°CA. On the other hand, when the ignition energy decreases from 91.97mJ to 33.1mJ at the same load level, the in-cylinder indicated mean effective pressure decreases. Moreover, the heat release rate is decreased by 15.18J/°CA and its peak phase is delayed by 6.5°CA, the peak pressure is decreased by 22.46% and its phase is delayed by 4.5°CA. The advancing ignition timing and increasing ignition energy enlarge the flame surface density and accelerate the burning rate at the same crank angle and lead to higher combustion intensity, so they are effective to shorten post-combustion period, and advantageous to improve the economy and dynamic performance of natural gas engine. However, due to faster combustion, the in-cylinder temperature raises, which results in slight increase of NO emission.
Song, En-ZheChu, Shi-ChaoYang, Li-PingLiu, Zhen-Ting
Particle Formation and Emissions in an Optical Small Displacement SI Engine Dual Fueled with CNG DI and Gasoline PFI2017-24-00929/4/2017
Fuel depletion as well as the growing concerns on environmental issues prompt to the use of more eco-friendly fuels. The compressed natural gas (CNG) is considered one of the most promising alternative fuel for engine applications because of the lower emissions. Nevertheless, recent studies highlighted the presence of ultrafine particle emissions at the exhaust of CNG engines. The present study aims to investigate the effect of CNG on particle formation and emissions when it was direct injected and when it was dual fueled with gasoline. In this latter case, the CNG was direct injected and the gasoline port fuel injected. The study was carried out on a transparent single cylinder SI engine in order to investigate the in-cylinder process by real time non-intrusive diagnostics. In-cylinder 2D chemiluminescence measurements from UV to visible were carried out. Two filters, at 310 and 431 nm, were used to obtain OH* and CH* spatial distribution as well as to evaluate the local air fuel ratio (AFR) in the cylinder. The OH* and air fuel ratio (AFR) spatial distribution influence the in-cylinder soot formation and oxidation. The exhaust emissions were characterized by means of gaseous analyzers and an opacimeter. The particle size distribution function was measured by an Engine Exhaust Particle Sizer (EEPS) in the size range from 5.6 to 560 nm. The in-cylinder optical analysis was correlated to exhaust particle emissions. It was observed that particle emissions, in terms of number and size, are strongly related to the AFR distribution in the combustion chamber.
Catapano, FrancescoDi Iorio, SilvanaSementa, PaoloVaglieco, Bianca Maria
Performance Prediction of Ethanol Powered Engine Using 1D Thermodynamic Simulation2017-28-19587/10/2017
Bio-fuels potentially represent a more environmentally friendly alternative to fossil fuels as they produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions when burned. Ethanol is one such bio-fuel alternative to the conventional fossil fuels. Towards the initiative of sustainable transportation using alternative fuels, it is attempted to develop an ethanol powered engine for commercial vehicles and this paper attempts to explain the 1D thermodynamic simulation carried out for predicting the engine performance and combustion characteristics, as a part of the engine development program. Engine simulation is becoming an increasingly important engineering tool for reducing the development cost and time and also helps in carrying out various DOE iterations which are rather difficult to be conducted experimentally in any internal combustion engine development program. AVL Boost software is used for modeling and simulation. The engine model used in this simulation is a 3.8 L four stroke, four cylinder, spark ignited, turbocharged intercooled engine with port fuel injection. This 1D thermodynamic model is calibrated in-house for diesel combustion and has more than 95% correlation with the experimental values. Engine combustion with ethanol-gasoline blend (E85) is simulated and the results are compared with a base CNG engine. The simulation results not only helped in validating the design strategy adopted, but also helped in optimizing the combustion hardware. Future work will focus on the proto engine development as per the design strategy finalized and establishing a correlation between the simulation and experimental results.
Giridharan, JyothivelKumar, Gokul
Investigation of Multi-Pole Spark Ignition Under Lean Conditions and with EGR2017-01-06793/28/2017
In order to meet the future carbon dioxide legislation, advanced clean combustion engines are tending to employ low temperature diluted combustion strategies along with intensified cylinder charge motion. The diluted mixtures are made by means of excess air admission or exhaust gas recirculation. A slower combustion speed during the early flame kernel development because of the suppressed mixture reactivity will reduce the reliability of the ignition process and the overall combustion stability. In an effort to address this issue, an ignition strategy using a multi-pole spark igniter is tested in this work. The igniter uses three electrically independent spark gaps to allow three spatially distributed spark discharges. The multi-pole spark strategy displayed more advanced combustion phasing and lower phasing variability compared to single spark discharges. Under conditions where ignition requirements are modest, both strategies could achieve comparable performance with the appropriate adjustment of spark timing. Under conditions where the ignition demands are high, such as at high EGR rates or very lean conditions, the dilution limits could be increased with the multi-pole strategy. At the low load condition tested, the lean limit could be extended from lambda 1.8 to 2. The EGR rate could similarly be extended from 26% to 32%.
Xie, KelvinYu, ShuiYu, XiaoBryden, GeraintZheng, MingLiu, Mengzhu
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