Numerical study of heat transfer of hydrogen combustion in noble gases atmosphere in compression ignition engine

The high energy content of hydrogen and zero carbon emission from hydrogen combustion is very important for compression ignition engine development. Hydrogen requires a very high auto-ignition temperature, which encourages replacing nitrogen with noble gases with higher specific heat ratio during compression process. In noble gases-hydrogen combustion, higher combustion temperature potentially leading to a higher heat loss. This paper aims to investigate the effect of hydrogen combustion in various noble gases on heat distribution and heat transfer on the cylinder wall. Converge CFD software was used to simulate a Yanmar NF19SK direct injection compression ignition engine. The local heat flux was measured at different locations of cylinder wall and piston head. The heat transfer of hydrogen combustion in various noble gases at different intake temperatures was studied using the numerical approach. As a result, hydrogen combustion in light noble gases such as helium produces faster combustion progress and higher heat temperature. The hydrogen combustion that experienced detonation, which happened in neon at 340 K and argon at 380 K, recorded a very high local heat flux at the cylinder head and piston due to the rapid combustion, which should be avoided in the engine operation. At a higher intake temperature, the rate of heat transfer on the cylinder wall is increased. In conclusion, helium was found as the best working gas for controlling combustion and heat transfer. Overall, the heat transfer data gained in this paper can be used to construct the future engine hydrogen in noble gases.     

Assessment of combustion and exhaust emissions in a common-rail diesel engine fueled with methane and hydrogen/methane mixtures under different compression ratio

This study investigates the potential usage of the methane and hydrogen enriched methane in a turbocharged common-rail direct injection diesel engine. Methane and hydrogen/methane mixtures are sent through the air intake manifold of the engine. The engine is operated at four different loads and three different compression ratios. Results are compared amongst single diesel and dual-fuel operations at different compression ratios and load conditions. Compared to diesel, dual-fuel operations mostly generate higher and advanced peak in-cylinder gas pressure, more combustion noise, late pilot injection and start of combustion, advanced combustion center, substantial variations at ignition delay and combustion duration, a significant increase in cyclic variations at low and medium loads, and earlier heat release. Hydrogen enrichment decreases evidently specific fuel consumption. Concerning emissions, compared to diesel operation, dual-fuel operations produce higher total hydrocarbon (THC) and nitrogen oxides (NO_x) but lower carbon dioxide (CO₂). Hydrogen substitutions decrease THC and CO₂ emissions of methane dual-fuel operations approximately between 9-29% and 1–32%, respectively. Smoke emission of dual-fuel operations is less than that of diesel at low and medium loads, whereas it sharply increases at high load. Knocking occurs at high compression ratio and load conditions with dual-fuel operations and dramatically increases with increasing hydrogen ratio. Decreasing the compression ratio notably reduces the combustion noise as well as some emissions, such as NO_x, CO₂ and smoke, for entire load ranges of dual-fuel and diesel operations.     

多孔介质发动机工作过程单区模型模拟

采用单区燃烧模型模拟多孔介质（PM）发动机的压缩、燃烧和膨胀过程。以热力学第一定律为基础,引入多孔介质换热模型,建立了多孔介质发动机的能量方程。计算了多种工况参数下PM发动机缸内温度、压强变化规律,分别讨论了压缩比、过量空气系数、多孔介质温度、多孔介质体换热系数等参数对多孔介质发动机燃烧过程的影响。将PM发动机与传统发动机加以比较,结果表明PM使缸内温度和压强的变化趋于平缓,这有利于混合气着火并可降低NO,排放。     

Numerical study of EGR effects on reducing the pressure rise rate of HCCI engine combustion

The effects of the inert components of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) gas on reducing the pressure rise rate of homogeneous charge compression ignition engine combustion were investigated numerically by utilizing the CHEMKIN II package and its SENKIN code, as well as Curran’s dimethyl ether reaction scheme. Calculations were conducted under constant volume combustion and engine combustion (one compression and one expansion only, respectively) conditions. Results show that with constant fuel amount and initial temperature and pressure, as EGR ratio increases, combustion timings are retarded and the duration of thermal ignition preparation extends non-linearly; peak values of pressure, pressure rising rate (PRR), and temperature decrease; and peak values of heat release rate in both low temperature heat release (LTHR) and high temperature heat release decrease. Moreover, maximum PRR decreases as CA50 is retarded. With constant fuel amount, mixtures with different EGR ratios can obtain the same CA50 by adjusting the initial temperature. Under the same CA50, as EGR ratio increases, the LTHR timing is advanced and the duration of thermal ignition preparation is extended. Maximum PRR is almost constant with the fixed CA50 despite the change in EGR ratio, indicating that the influence of EGR dilution on chemical reaction rate is offset by other factors. Further investigation on the mechanism of this phenomenon is needed.     

Numerical study of EGR effects on reducing the pressure rise rate of HCCI engine combustion

The effects of the inert components of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) gas on reducing the pressure rise rate of homogeneous charge compression ignition engine combustion were investigated numerically by utilizing the CHEMKIN II package and its SENKIN code, as well as Curran’s dimethyl ether reaction scheme. Calculations were conducted under constant volume combustion and engine combustion (one compression and one expansion only, respectively) conditions. Results show that with constant fuel amount and initial temperature and pressure, as EGR ratio increases, combustion timings are retarded and the duration of thermal ignition preparation extends non-linearly; peak values of pressure, pressure rising rate (PRR), and temperature decrease; and peak values of heat release rate in both low temperature heat release (LTHR) and high temperature heat release decrease. Moreover, maximum PRR decreases as CA50 is retarded. With constant fuel amount, mixtures with different EGR ratios can obtain the same CA50 by adjusting the initial temperature. Under the same CA50, as EGR ratio increases, the LTHR timing is advanced and the duration of thermal ignition preparation is extended. Maximum PRR is almost constant with the fixed CA50 despite the change in EGR ratio, indicating that the influence of EGR dilution on chemical reaction rate is offset by other factors. Further investigation on the mechanism of this phenomenon is needed.     

Study of the cycle-to-cycle variations of an internal combustion engine fuelled with natural gas/hydrogen blends from the diagnosis of combustion pressure

A methodology is presented for studying the influence of using alternative fuels on the cycle-to-cycle variations of a spark ignition engine which has been fuelled with mixtures of natural gas and hydrogen in different proportions (0–100%). The experimental facility consists of a single-cylindrical spark ignition engine coupled to an asynchronous machine with a constant engine rotation speed of 1500 rpm. A thermodynamic combustion diagnostic model based on genetic algorithms is used to evaluate the combustion chamber pressure data experimentally obtained in the mentioned engine. The model is used to make the pressure diagnosis of series of 830 consecutive engine cycles automatically, with a high grade of objectivity of the combustion analysis, since the relevant adjustment parameters (i.e. pressure offset, effective compression ratio, top dead center angular position, heat transfer coefficients) are calculated by the genetic algorithm. Results indicate that the combustion process is dominated by the turbulence inside the combustion chamber (generated during intake and compression), showing little dependency of combustion variation on the mixture composition. This becomes more evident when relevant combustion variables are plotted versus the Mass Fraction Burned of each mixture. The only exception is the case of 100% hydrogen, due to the inherent higher laminar speed of hydrogen that causes combustion acceleration and thus turbulence generation.     

Numerical study on knock characteristics and mechanism of a heavy duty natural gas/diesel RCCI engine

In this paper, the knock phenomenon of reactivity controlled compression ignition (RCCI) engine fueled with natural gas/diesel was numerically studied. The knock mechanism of the RCCI engine is explained and the strategy of suppressing knock is put forward. The knock characteristics were studied by setting monitoring points in different spaces positions of the cylinder. The results show that the pressure oscillation amplitude at the center and edge of the cylinder is large under the high load condition of RCCI engine. In addition, the knock mechanism was studied by using pressure difference method, maximum amplitude of pressure oscillation, important components, temperature isosurface, pressure fluctuation and heat release rate. The results show that the knock of RCCI engine is mainly caused by the end-gas auto-ignition. The pressure difference results show that the characteristic frequency is consistent with the natural resonance mode (0,1) of the cylindrical combustion chamber. On this basis, the effects of pilot oil injection timing and compression ratio on engine knock are further studied. It is confirmed that diesel knock and end-gas knock may exist simultaneously in the same cycle when RCCI engine knock occurs. And diesel knock occurs before top dead center, and end-gas knock occurs after top dead center. Proper adjustment of pilot oil injection timing and reduction of compression ratio can effectively suppress engine knock.     

Experimental study of combustion and emission characteristics of ethanol fuelled port injected homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) combustion engine

The homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) is an alternative combustion concept for in reciprocating engines. The HCCI combustion engine offers significant benefits in terms of its high efficiency and ultra low emissions. In this investigation, port injection technique is used for preparing homogeneous charge. The combustion and emission characteristics of a HCCI engine fuelled with ethanol were investigated on a modified two-cylinder, four-stroke engine. The experiment is conducted with varying intake air temperature (120–150 °C) and at different air–fuel ratios, for which stable HCCI combustion is achieved. In-cylinder pressure, heat release analysis and exhaust emission measurements were employed for combustion diagnostics. In this study, effect of intake air temperature on combustion parameters, thermal efficiency, combustion efficiency and emissions in HCCI combustion engine is analyzed and discussed in detail. The experimental results indicate that the air–fuel ratio and intake air temperature have significant effect on the maximum in-cylinder pressure and its position, gas exchange efficiency, thermal efficiency, combustion efficiency, maximum rate of pressure rise and the heat release rate. Results show that for all stable operation points, NO_x emissions are lower than 10 ppm however HC and CO emissions are higher.     

压缩比对直喷天然气发动机燃烧与排放特性的影响

在缸内直喷火花点火天然气发动机上开展了压缩比为8、10、12和14的燃烧和排放特性研究。研究结果表明,压缩比对发动机性能、燃烧和排放有较大影响。压缩比增加,发动机充量系数增加,燃烧速率加快,热效率提高。缸内最高燃烧压力、最高燃气平均温度和最大压力升高率等燃烧参数随压缩比的增加而增加;HC和CO排放随压缩比的增加而降低,NOx随压缩比的增加而增加。压缩比过高会导致HC排放的增加,当压缩比大于12时,发动机在中高负荷出现轻微爆燃现象,NOx排放明显增加。综合考虑直喷式天然气发动机的动力性、经济性和排放性能,认为发动机的最佳压缩比设置在12比较合理。     

Spatial combustion analysis of biodiesel fueled engine using combustion chamber endoscopy and modeling

Main objective of this study was to demonstrate endoscopic visualization of combustion events in the combustion chamber of a production grade compression ignition (CI) engine. High speed endoscopic imaging was used to provide qualitative information about the in–cylinder combustion for mineral diesel and biodiesel fueled engine operating at different engine loads. These images were analyzed using image processing program developed in MATLAB, in order to determine the ‘start of combustion’ (SoC), ‘spatial soot distribution’ and ‘spatial flame temperature distribution’. In–cylinder pressure and rate of heat release (RoHR) were validated using simulation results obtained by using a KIVA-3V code. The luminosity of flames in the combustion images was relatively lower for biodiesel compared to baseline diesel. Area of soot distribution decreased in later stages of combustion for both test fuels, which indicated superior oxidation of soot particles formed, during the post combustion events. Biodiesel showed relatively lower dissipation of heat, which caused lower soot radiations in the flames. Simulated soot distribution and flame temperature distribution obtained from KIVA-3V code also showed similar behavior and verified the trends observed by combustion chamber endoscopy.     

Simulation of a porous medium (PM) engine using a two-zone combustion model

Porous medium (PM) engine was a new type engine based on the technique of combustion in porous medium, which can realize homogeneous and stable combustion. In this paper, the combustion and working processes of a specific PM engine were simulated by a two-zone model considering the influences of the mass distribution, heat transfer from the cylinder wall, mass exchange between zones and the heat transfer in porous medium. Influences of operating parameters, e.g. intake temperature and pressure, compression ratio, the excess air ratio on the performance of the PM engine were discussed. It was found out that the porous medium, acting as a heat recuperator, can significantly enhance the evaporation of liquid fuel and preheat the mixture, which promotes the ignition and combustion in the cylinder; and that the initial PM temperature and the compression ratio are critical factors controlling the compression ignition of the mixture.     

新型高压缩比稀混合气492QS车用汽油机燃烧特性与氧化氮排放的研究

对采用射流燃烧室的新型高压缩比稀混合气492QS车用汽油机，在单缸机实测示功图和NOx排放数据基础上，结合由新改进的多区燃烧分析模型经计算得到的燃烧放热率、已燃气体平均温度、NOx生成率等有关结果，分析了燃烧特性与NOx生成特性之间的关系。从而既为该燃烧系统的深入研究及推广应用提供了理论依据。又展示了在汽油机中较好地解决兼顾性能与NOx排放的一种技术途径。     

Local heat flux measurements in a hydrogen and methane spark ignition engine with a thermopile sensor

This paper describes an experimental investigation of heat transfer inside a CFR spark ignition engine operated at a constant engine speed of 600 rpm. The heat flux is directly measured under motored and fired conditions with a commercially available thermopile sensor. The heat transfer during hydrogen and methane combustion is compared examining the effects of the compression ratio, ignition timing and mixture richness. Less cyclic and spatial variation in the heat flux traces are observed when burning hydrogen, which can be correlated to the faster burn rate. The peak heat flux increases with the compression ratio, but the total cycle heat loss can decrease due to less heat transfer at the end of the expansion stroke. An advanced spark timing and increased mixture richness cause an increased and advanced peak in the heat flux trace. Hydrogen combustion gives a heat flux peak which is three times as high as the one of methane for the same engine power output.     

Performance simulation of a low‐swirl burner for a Stirling engine

A new type of gas burner for Stirling engine that can recover adequate heat from exhaust gas was designed based on the plate heat exchanger and low‐swirl combustion technology, which consists of three components: a cyclone, a burner, and a circular plate heat exchanger. The circular plate heat exchanger tightly wound around the combustion chamber plays a high efficiency of heat recovery role. In consideration of the radial symmetry of the burner, a three‐dimensional numerical simulation was carried out by Ansys15. The velocity distribution, temperature distribution, and pressure distribution of the combustion gas were presented respectively. Strong backflow that came from the exhaust gas around the root of the flame in the combustion chamber and a vortex below the inlet of the exhaust gas channel were found, which were beneficial for the combustion and improving the uniformity of temperature distribution. Combustion behaviors of the burner under standard operating conditions were obtained, the highest temperature was about 2200 K in burner and the exhaust gas entered the plate heat exchanger at the temperature of 1375 K and exited at 464 K, with the waste heat recovery efficiency over 65.8%. And, the air‐fuel ratio and combustion power had negligible effect on the waste heat recovery efficiency.     

Performance and emission characteristics of CIE using hydrogen,biodiesel, and massive EGR

Hydrogen is considered as an excellent energy carrier and can be used in diesel engines that operate in dual fuel mode. Many studies have shown that biodiesel, which is sustainable, clean, and safe, a good alternative to fossil fuel. However, tests have confirmed that using biodiesel or hydrogen as a fuel or added fuel in compression ignition engines increases NOx concentrations. Cooled or hot exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) effectively controls the NOx outflows of diesel engines. However, this technique is restricted by high particulate matter PM emissions and the low thermal efficiency of diesel engines.In this study, gaseous hydrogen was added to the intake manifold of a diesel engine that uses biodiesel fuel as pilot fuel. The investigation was conducted under heavy-EGR conditions. An EGR system was modified to achieve the highest possible control on the EGR ratio and temperature. Hot EGR was recirculated directly from the engine exhaust to the intake manifold. A heat exchanger was utilized to maintain the temperature of the cooled EGR at 25 °C.The supplied hydrogen increased NOx concentrations in the exhaust gas emissions and high EGR rates reduced the brake thermal efficiency. The reduction in NOx emissions depended on the added hydrogen and the EGR ratios when compared with pure diesel combustion. Adding hydrogen to significant amounts of recycled exhaust gas reduced the CO, PM, and unburned hydrocarbon (HC) emissions significantly. Results showed that using hydrogen and biodiesel increases engine noise, which is reduced by adding high levels of EGR.     

压燃式天然气发动机着火和敲缸的试验研究

提出了一种压燃式天然气发动机燃烧系统。该燃烧系统采用了低散热的分隔式燃烧室和复合供气系统,即利用分别安装于进气管和气缸盖上的高、低压天然气喷射阀在一个工作循环中的分时供气,以在副燃烧室内形成较浓的混合气,在主燃烧室内形成稀混合气。在接近压缩终点处,副室内的混合气首先着火,其火焰喷入主燃烧室点燃其中的稀混合气。在单缸试验机上研究了这一燃烧系统的着火起动特性和敲缸现象。试验结果说明：仅采用进气道低压喷射天然气的供气方式在发动机气缸内形成天然气／空气的均质混合气,可很容易地实现压缩着火和起动发动机;电热塞温度、进气温度及副室与主室之间通道尺寸对发动机的着火和起动性有显著的影响,可以实现仅利用电热塞辅助加热即可在常温进气条件下起动发动机。在主、副燃烧室内实现混合气浓度的时间-空间控制,以实现混合气浓度分层,有助于避免敲缸现象。     

Experimental study on combustion characteristics of a spark-ignition engine fueled with natural gas–hydrogen blends combining with EGR

An experimental study on the effect of hydrogen fraction and EGR rate on the combustion characteristics of a spark-ignition engine fueled with natural gas–hydrogen blends was investigated. The results show that flame development duration, rapid combustion duration and total combustion duration are increased with the increase of EGR rate and decreased with the increase of hydrogen fraction in the blends. Hydrogen addition shows larger influence on flame development duration than that on rapid combustion duration. The coefficient of variation of the indicated mean effective pressure increases with the increase of EGR rate. And hydrogen addition into natural gas decreases the coefficient of variation of the indicated mean effective pressure, and this effectiveness becomes more obviously at high EGR rate. Engine fueled with natural gas–hydrogen blends combining with proper EGR rate can realize the stable low temperature combustion in gas engine.     

Investigation of the temperature oscillations in the cylinder walls of a diesel engine with special reference to the limited cooled case

This work investigates the interesting phenomenon of the temperature (cyclic) oscillations in the combustion chamber walls of a diesel engine. For this purpose, a comprehensive simulation code of the thermodynamic cycle of the engine is developed taking into account both the closed and the open parts of it. The energy and state equations are applied, with appropriate combustion, gas heat transfer, and mass exchange with the atmosphere sub‐models, to yield cylinder pressure, local temperatures and heat release histories as well as various performance parameters of the engine. The model is appropriately coupled to a wall periodic conduction model, which uses the gas temperature variation as boundary condition throughout the engine cycle after being treated by Fourier analysis techniques. It is calibrated against measurements, at various load and speed conditions, from an experimental work carried out on a direct injection (DI), naturally aspirated, four‐stroke, diesel engine located at the authors' laboratory, which has been reported in detail previously. After gaining confidence into the predictive capabilities of the model, it is used to investigate the phenomenon further, thus providing insight into many interesting aspects of transient engine heat transfer, as far as the influence that engine wall material properties have on the values of cyclic temperature swings. These swings can take prohibitive values causing high wall thermal fatigue, when materials of specific technological interest such as thermal insulators (ceramics) are used, and may lead to deterioration in engine performance. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

二甲醚均质压燃发动机燃烧特性的研究

二甲醚均质压燃发动机由一台单缸柴油机改造而成,其压缩比为10．7。二甲醚气体随进气进入气缸,形成均质混合气。通过试验采集分析缸内压力,结果表明二甲醚均质压燃燃烧是一个两阶段放热过程,分别发生在610K和900K左右。第一阶段放热量较少,约占10％,正常情况下第二阶段集中在上止点附近,释放出70％以上的燃料热量。发动机负荷对最大缸压力及其出现位置、压力升高率和放热率曲线形状等都有重要影响,而发动机转速对它们的影响比较小。     

柴油机TR燃烧系统实现低温预混合燃烧的研究

为了验证TR燃烧系统降低发动机排放、实现低温预混合燃烧的能力,在一台经过改造的单缸135柴油机上进行了降低压缩比、燃用柴油-乙醇混合燃料和推迟供油的试验研究.结果表明,压缩比ε降低后,着火推迟,最大放热率增加,缸内最高压力和最高温度降低,NOx排放也降低.但是中高负荷时燃烧速率降低,有效油耗率增加.当燃用乙醇体积含量20%的乙醇-柴油混合燃料时,与燃用柴油燃料相比,着火延迟期延长,烟度大幅度降低.小负荷时缸内最高压力、最高温度、最大放热率和燃烧速率都降低,NOx降低较多;中高负荷时最大放热率高于后者,燃烧速率提高,NOx降低得较少.当供油定时从15°CA BT-DC推迟到13°CA BTDC后,烟度基本不变.