Investigation of the Effect of Additives to Natural Gas on Heavy-Duty SI Engine Combustion Characteristics
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15282/jmes.5.2013.14.0065Keywords:
Natural gas composition; additives; heavy SI engine; combustion characteristicsAbstract
This work investigates the implications of natural-gas composition on the combustion in a heavy-duty natural-gas engine and on the associated pollutant emissions. Natural gas is injected in ports and mixes with air before entering the cylinder. For the ignition source, both a spark plug and diesel pilot, which is injected before the top-dead center in the cylinder, are used. The effect of additives such as hydrogen, ethane and nitrogen on the output power and efficiency of the engine and emission levels are examined. The results indicate that these additives had no significant effect on the engine’s power or fuel consumption. Emissions of unburned fuel are reduced for all additives through either enhanced ignition or combustion processes. Adding ethane and H2 to the fuel increases the in-cylinder pressure and NOx emission, while fuel dilution with N2 has a critical amount. Black carbon particulate matter emissions are increased by ethane, but are virtually eliminated by including nitrogen or hydrogen in the fuel. The results show the higher flame speed of ethane compared to hydrogen, and hydrogen compared to methane. Thus, to reach the MBT condition, the spark time of ethane is the most retarded one and for methane it is the most advanced.
References
Allenby, S., Chang, W. C., Megaritis, A., & Wyszynski, M. L. (2001). Hydrogen enrichment: A way to maintain combustion stability in a natural gas fuelled engine with exhaust gas recirculation, the potential of fuel reforming. Paper presented at the Proceedings of Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
Aziz, A. R. A., Firmansyah, & Shahzad, R. (2010). Combustion analysis of a cng direct injection spark ignition engine. International Journal of Automotive and Mechanical Engineering, 2, 157-170.
Bhaskar, K., Nagarajan, G., & Sampath, S. (2010). Experimental investigation on cold start emissions using electrically heated catalyst in a spark ignition engine. International Journal of Automotive and Mechanical Engineering, 2, 105-118.
Caillo, C., Delorme, T., Denis, P., Berardi, G., & Porterie, B. (2002). A combustion model for analyzing the effects of natural gas composition on the operation of a spark ignition engine. SAE Technical Paper.
Choudhuri, A. R., & Gollahalli, S. R. (2003). Characteristics of hydrogen-hydrocarbon composite fuel turbulent jet flames. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 28, 445-454.
Clark, N. N., Mott, G. E., Atkinson, C. M., de Jong, R. J., Atkinson, F. J., & Latvakosky, T. e. a. (1995). Effect of fuel composition on the operation of a lean burn natural gas engine. SAE Technical Paper.
Crookes, R. J. (2006). Comparative bio-fuel performance in internal combustion engines. Biomass Bioenergy, 30, 461-468.
El-Sherif, A. S. (1998). Effects of natural gas composition on the nitrogen oxide, flame structure, and burning velocity under laminar premixed flame conditions. Fuel, 77(14), 1539-1547.
Feese, J. J., & Turns, S. R. (1998). Nitric oxide emissions from laminar diffusion flames: Effects of air-side versus fuel-side diluent addition. Combustion and Flame, 113, 66-78.
Fotache, C. G., Kreutz, T. G., & Law, C. K. (1997). Ignition of counterflowing methane versus heater air under reduced and elevated pressures. Combustion and Flame, 108, 442-470.
Gauducheau, J. L., Denet, B., & Searby, G. (1998). A numerical study of lean ch4/h2/air premixed flames at high pressure. Combustion Science and Technology, 137, 81-99.
Ghobadian, B., Najafi, G., & Nayebi, M. (2013). A semi-empirical model to predict diesel engine combustion parameters. Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Sciences, 4, 373-382.
Harrington, J., Munshi, S., Nedelcu, C., Ouellette, P., Thompson, J., & Whitfield, S. (2002). Direct injection of natural gas in a heavy-duty diesel engine. SAE Technical Paper.
Hill, P. G., & McTaggart-Cowan, G. P. (2005). Nitrogen oxide production in a diesel engine fueled by natural gas. SAE Technical Paper.
Hiltner, J., Agama, R., Mauss, F., Johansson, B., & Christensen, M. (2003). Homogeneous charge compression ignition operation with natural gas: Fuel composition implications. ASME Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 125, 837-844.
Huang, J., & Bushe, W. K. (2006). Experimental and kinetic study of autoignition in methane/ethane/air and methane/propane/air mixtures under engine relevant conditions. Combustion and Flame, 144, 74-88.
Jones, H. L., McTaggart-Cowan, G. P., Rogak, S. N., Bushe, W. K., Munshi, S. R., & Buchholz, B. A. (2005). Source apportionment of particulate matter from a direct injection pilot ignited natural gas fuelled heavy duty di engine. SAE Technical Paper.
Kalyani Radha, K., Naga Sarada, S., Rajagopal, K., & Nagesh, E. L. (2011). Performance and emission characteristics of ci engine operated on vegetable oils as alternate fuels. International Journal of Automotive and Mechanical Engineering, 4, 414-427.
Kamil, M., Rahman, M. M., & Bakar, R. A. (2011). Performance evaluation of external mixture formation strategy in hydrogen fueled engine. Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Sciences, 1, 87-98.
Kapilan, N., Ashok Babu, T. P., & Reddy, R. P. (2010). Improvement of performance of dual fuel engine operated at part load. International Journal of Automotive and Mechanical Engineering, 2, 200-210.
Karbasi, M., & Wierzba, I. (1998). The effects of hydrogen addition on the stability limits of methane jet diffusion flames. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 23(2), 123-129.
Khalil, E. B., & Karim, G. A. (2002). A kinetic investigation of the role of changes in the composition of natural gas in engine applications. ASME Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 124, 404-411.
Kido, H., Nakahara, M., Hashimot, J., & Barat, D. (2002). Turbulent burning velocities of two component fuel mixtures of methane, propane, and hydrogen. JSME International Journal Series B, 45, 355-362.
Larsen, J. F., & Wallace, J. S. (1997). Comparison of emissions and efficiency of a turbocharged lean-burn natural gas and hythane-fueled engine. ASME Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 119, 218-226.
Loubar, K., Rahmouni, C., Le Corre, O., & Tazerout, M. (2005). Combustion properties determination of natural gas using thermal conductivity and co2 content. SAE Technical Paper.
Ma, F., Wang, Y., Liu, H., Li, Y., Wang, J., & Zhao, S. (2007). Experimental study on thermal efficiency and emission characteristics of a lean burn hydrogen enriched natural gas engine. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 32, 5067-5075.
Mat Yasin, M. H., Mamat, R., Sharma, K. V., & Yusop, A. F. (2012). Influence of palm methyl ester (pme) as an alternative fuel in the multicylinder diesel engine. Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Sciences, 3, 331-339.
McTaggart-Cowan, G. P., Jones, H. L., Rogak, S. N., Bushe, W. K., Hill, P. G., & Munshi, S. R. (2007a). The effects of high pressure injection on a compression ignition, direct injection of natural gas engine. ASME Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 129, 579-588.
McTaggart-Cowan, G. P., Munshi, S. R., Rogak, S. N., Hill, P. G., & Bushe, W. K. (2007b). Hydrogen- methane blend fuelling of a heavy-duty direct-injection engine. Paper presented at the Proceedings of ASME International Mechanical Engineering Conference,.
McTaggart-Cowan, G. P., Reynolds, C. C. O., & Bushe, W. K. (2006). Natural gas fuelling for heavy-duty on-road use: Current trends and future direction. International Journal of Environmental Study, 63(4), 421-440.
McTaggart-Cowan, G. P., Rogak, S. N., Hill, P. G., Munshi, S. R., & Bushe, W. K. (2007c). The effects of fuel dilution in a natural-gas direct-injection engine. Proceedings of IMechE Part D, Journal of Automobile Engineering, 222(D3), 441-453.
McTaggart-Cowan, G. P., Rogak, S. N., Munshi, S. R., Hill, P. G., & Bushe, W. K. (2009). Combustion in a heavy-duty direct-injection engine using hydrogen-methane blend fuels. International Journal of Engine Research, 10(1), 1-13.
Min, B. H., Bang, K. H., Kim, H. Y., Chung, J. T., & Park, S. (1998). Effects of gas composition on the performance and hydrocarbon emissions for cng engines. SAE Technical Paper.
Mohanamurugan, S., & Sendilvelan, S. (2011). Emission and combustion characteristics of different fuel in a hcci engine. International Journal of Automotive and Mechanical Engineering, 3, 279-292.
Naber, J. D., Siebers, D. L., Westbrook, C. K., Caton, J. A., & DiJulio, S. S. (1994). Natural gas autoignition under diesel conditions: Experiments and chemical kinetic modeling. SAE Technical Paper.
Naha, S., & Agarawal, S. K. (2004). Fuel effects on nox emissions in partially premixed flames. Combustion and Flame, 139, 90-105.
Rahim, R., Mamat, R., Taib, M. Y., & Abdullah, A. A. (2012). Influence of fuel temperature on a diesel engine performance operating with biodiesel blended. Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Sciences, 2, 226-236.
Richards, G. A., McMillian, M. M., Gemmen, R. S., Rogers, W. A., & Cully, S. R. (2001). Issues for low emission, fuel-flexible power systems. Progress in Energy and Combustion Science, 27, 141-169.
Sierens, R., & Rosseel, E. (2000). Variable composition hydrogen/natural gas mixtures for increased engine efficiency and decreased emissions. ASME Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 122, 135-140.
Sullivan, G. D., Huang, J., Wang, T. X., Bushe, W. K., & Rogak, S. N. (2005). Emissions variability in gaseous fuel direct injection compression ignition combustion. SAE Technical Paper.
Sundar Raj, C., & Sendilvelan, S. (2010). Effect of oxygenated hydrocarbon additives on exhaust emission of a diesel engine. International Journal of Automotive and Mechanical Engineering, 2, 144-156.
Yossefi, D., Belmont, M. R., Ashcroft, S. J., & Maskell, A. J. (2000). A comparison of the relative effects of fuel composition and ignition energy on the early stages of combustion in a natural gas spark ignition engine using simulation. Proceedings of IMechE Part D, Journal of Automobile Engineering, 383-394.
