Evaluation of a combustion model for the simulation of hydrogen spark-ignition engines using a CFD code

The present work deals with the evaluation of a combustion model that has been developed, in order to simulate the power cycle of hydrogen spark-ignition engines. The motivation for the development of such a model is to obtain a simple combustion model with few calibration constants, applicable to a wide range of engine configurations, incorporated in an in-house CFD code using the RNG k–? turbulence model. The calculated cylinder pressure traces, gross heat release rate diagrams and exhaust nitric oxide (NO) emissions are compared with the corresponding measured ones at various engine loads. The engine used is a Cooperative Fuel Research (CFR) engine fueled with hydrogen, operating at a constant engine speed of 600 rpm. This model is composed of various sub-models used for the simulation of combustion of conventional fuels in SI engines; it has been adjusted in the current study specifically for hydrogen combustion. The basic sub-model incorporated for the calculation of the reaction rates is the characteristic conversion time-scale method, meaning that a time-scale is used depending on the laminar conversion time and the turbulent mixing time, which dictates to what extent the combustible gas has reached its chemical equilibrium during a predefined time step. Also, the laminar and turbulent combustion velocity is used to track the flame development within the combustion chamber, using two correlations for the laminar flame speed and the Zimont/Lipatnikov approach for the modeling of the turbulent flame speed, whereas the (NO) emissions are calculated according to the Zeldovich mechanism. From the evaluation conducted, it is revealed that by using the developed hydrogen combustion model and after adjustment of the unique model calibration constant, there is an adequate agreement with measured data (regarding performance and emissions) for the investigated conditions. However, there are a few more issues to be resolved dealing mainly with the ignition process and the applicability of a reliable set of constants for the emission calculations.     

电控喷射LPG发动机冷起动失火特性

为加强冷起动阶段的排放控制,在一台125 cm3单缸电控喷射LPG点燃式发动机上进行了冷起动失火特性的试验研究.通过程序设计,以电控断点火方式造成发动机在所设定循环的完全失火,研究了冷起动过程不同循环在单循环失火、连续两循环失火和连续三循环失火的起动转速和HC排放,并对冷起动前120循环在不同失火率时的HC排放进行了研究.通过试验找到了影响LPG发动机冷起动过程起动转速和HC排放的关键着火循环,即理想的首次着火循环及其次循环.发动机理想的首次着火循环失火对起动时的HC排放和转速影响最大.在首次着火循环的下一循环失火对起动HC排放影响次之,而其余循环的失火对起动HC排放影响基本相同.提高起动初期发动机转速有利于后续循环的稳定运行.HC排放与失火率呈一定比例关系.失火率增加1倍时,HC排放升高约1倍.当失火率超过500/时,HC排放总量急剧升高.     

Investigating the effects of LPG on spark ignition engine combustion and performance

A quasi-dimensional spark ignition (SI) engine cycle model is used to predict the cycle, performance and exhaust emissions of an automotive engine for the cases of using gasoline and LPG. Governing equations of the mathematical model mainly consist of first order ordinary differential equations derived for cylinder pressure and temperature. Combustion is simulated as a turbulent flame propagation process and during this process, two different thermodynamic regions consisting of unburned gases and burned gases that are separated by the flame front are considered. A computer code for the cycle model has been prepared to perform numerical calculations over a range of engine speeds and fuel–air equivalence ratios. In the computations performed at different engine speeds, the same fuel–air equivalence ratios are selected for each fuel to make realistic comparisons from the fuel economy and fuel consumption points of view. Comparisons show that if LPG fueled SI engines are operated at the same conditions with those of gasoline fueled SI engines, significant improvements in exhaust emissions can be achieved. However, variations in various engine performance parameters and the effects on the engine structural elements are not promising.     

Effect of water injection and spark timing on the nitric oxide emission and combustion parameters of a hydrogen fuelled spark ignition engine

One of the main problems with hydrogen fuelled internal combustion engines is the high NO level due to rapid combustion. Use of diluents with the charge and retardation of the spark ignition timing can reduce NO levels in Hydrogen fuelled engines. In this work a single cylinder hydrogen fuelled engine was run at different equivalence ratios at full throttle. NO levels were found to rise after an equivalence ratio of 0.55, maximum value was about 7500 ppm. High reductions in NO emission were not possible without a significant drop in thermal efficiency with retarded spark ignition timings. Drastic drop in NO levels to even as low as 2490 ppm were seen with water injection. In spite of the reduction in heat release rate (HRR) no loss in brake thermal efficiency (BTE) was observed. There was no significant influence on combustion stability or HC levels.     

电喷LPG发动机快速燃烧过程的应用研究

介绍了应用于高速单燃料LPG电喷发动机的高能双火花塞快速燃烧系统的组成及其在发动机稳态运行工况的稀燃研究。开发了发动机多通道瞬态燃烧分析系统用于LPG快速燃烧过程的研究,快速燃烧系统的同步、异步点火通过ECU及其控制策略的控制实现。试验结果表明：LPG混合气的火焰传播速度得到提高,LPG的燃烧稀限由过量空气系数1．25—1．4拓展为1．4—1．5;结合燃烧室和火花塞位置的优化,火焰传播距离被缩短以实现LPG稀混合气的快速燃烧。     

Evaluation of a spark ignition engine cycle using first and second law analysis techniques

In the present work, a simulation model of the actual processes occurring during the thermodynamic cycle of a real spark ignition engine is developed. The model incorporates such important features as heat exchange of the cylinder gases with the chamber walls (during all phases), real spark ignition timings, real valve opening and closing timings, accurate simulation of the spherical flame front movement issuing from the spark plug and calculation of eight chemical species concentration during combustion, at every engine degree crank angle. The results from this first law analysis of the real cycle (for example pressure indicator diagrams, efficiencies) are compared favourably with the relevant experimental results obtained from a flexible, variable compression ratio, Ricardo E-6 spark ignition engine, located at the author's laboratory, forming thus a sound basis for moving towards a second law evaluation of this cycle. The thermodynamic state points, determined from the first law analysis, are used to determine the availability (second law analysis) at each engine crank angle and so lead to the effectiveness computation, as well as to the revelation of the magnitude of the work-potential lost during the various processes in a much more realistic way than the first law analysis can. The second law analysis results, for the actual engine in hand, are compared with the up-to-now existing ideal cycle Otto engine results. Also, a second law parametric investigation is performed over a wide range of design and operation conditions (compression ratio, fuel-air ratio, ignition advance), providing useful information for the cycle processes performance assessment by bringing state degradations and thermodynamic losses into perspective.     

不同过量空气系数下射流点火发动机燃烧、排放和爆震特性的试验研究

基于单缸试验机研究了过量空气系数对射流点火发动机性能的影响.通过分析发动机性能曲线、缸内燃烧情况及爆震特性探究射流点火最佳运行区间,并与火花点火燃烧方式进行对比.结果表明,射流点火可以有效提升瞬时放热率并拓展发动机稀燃极限,缩短缸内混合气滞燃期与燃烧持续期,同时燃油经济性有一定提升.在稀燃条件下氮氧化物排放极低.爆震方...     

汽油机燃烧过程模拟计算及爆震预测

将计算焰前反应的化学反应动力学模型与燃烧模型及湍流火焰传播模型相结合,建立了含有碳氢燃料焰前反应的简易化学动力学模型的汽油机双区燃烧模型。用该模型能较好地模拟汽油机燃烧过程,并能实现爆震预测,研究影响爆震发生的诸多因素。采用此模型对４９２ Ｑ Ａ 汽油机进行模拟计算的结果与试验结果能较好地吻合,证明了该模型的可行性。     

火花点火对缸内直喷汽油机HCCI燃烧的影响

实现汽油机均质混合气压燃(HCCI)的难点是着火控制。在缸内直喷汽油机上实现了HCCI燃烧,研究了火花点火对HCCI燃烧特性的影响。结果表明,HCCI燃烧方式较火花点火(SI)火焰传播燃烧方式放热速率快,热效率高,NOx大幅度降低。在HCCI临界状态时,火花点火有助于提高燃烧稳定性,抑制失火和爆燃,降低循环波动;当火花点火时缸内温度远超过临界着火温度时,火花点火对HCCI燃烧影响不大。火花点火在SI／HCCI燃烧模式切换工况时,能提高瞬态过渡平顺性。     

Understanding ignition processes in spray-guided gasoline engines using high-speed imaging and the extended spark-ignition model SparkCIMM: Part B: Importance of molecular fuel properties in early flame front propagation

Recent high-speed imaging of ignition processes in spray-guided gasoline engines has motivated the development of the physically-based spark channel ignition monitoring model SparkCIMM, which bridges the gap between a detailed spray/vaporization model and a model for fully developed turbulent flame front propagation. Previously, both SparkCIMM and high-speed optical imaging data have shown that, in spray-guided engines, the spark plasma channel is stretched and wrinkled by the local turbulence, excessive stretching results in spark re-strikes, large variations occur in turbulence intensity and local equivalence ratio along the spark channel, and ignition occurs in localized regions along the spark channel (based upon a Karlovitz-number criteria).In this paper, SparkCIMM is enhanced by: (1) an extended flamelet model to predict localized ignition spots along the spark plasma channel, (2) a detailed chemical mechanism for gasoline surrogate oxidation, and (3) a formulation of early flame kernel propagation based on the G-equation theory that includes detailed chemistry and a local enthalpy flamelet model to consider turbulent enthalpy fluctuations. In agreement with new experimental data from broadband spark and hot soot luminosity imaging, the model establishes that ignition prefers to occur in fuel-rich regions along the spark channel. In this highly-turbulent highly-stratified environment, these ignition spots burn as quasi-laminar flame kernels. In this paper, the laminar burning velocities and flame thicknesses of these kernels are calculated along the mean turbulent flame front, using tabulated detailed chemistry flamelets over a wide range of stoichiometry and exhaust gas dilution. The criteria for flame propagation include chemical (cross-over temperature based) and turbulence (Karlovitz-number based) effects. Numerical simulations using ignition models of different physical complexity demonstrate the significance of turbulent mixture fraction and enthalpy fluctuations in the prediction of early flame front propagation. A third paper on SparkCIMM (companion paper to this one) focuses on the importance of molecular fuel properties and flame curvature on early flame propagation and compares computed flame propagation with high speed combustion imaging and computed heat release rates with cylinder pressure analysis.The goals of SparkCIMM development are to (a) enhance our fundamental understanding of ignition and combustion processes in highly-turbulent highly-stratified engine conditions, (b) incorporate that understanding into a physically-based submodel for RANS engine calculations that can be reliably used without modification for a wide range of conditions (i.e., homogeneous or stratified, low or high turbulence, low or high dilution), and (c) provide a submodel that can be incorporated into a future LES model for physically-based modeling of cycle-to-cycle variability in engines.     

A computer simulation of hydrogen fueled spark ignition engine

The work reported here pertains to some of the computer simulation models developed for hydrogen fueled spark ignition (SI) engines. The engine combustion process is modeled by using a semi-empirical turbulent flame speed expression. This combustion model has been employed to account for the hydrogen-air combustion process over a wide range of stoichiometric variables for the Varimax engine operating at various speeds and compression ratios. Based on the computed results, graphs showing the variation of combustion crank angle and flame speed with fuel-air equivalence ratio, engine speed, compression ratio etc., have been plotted.     

Fundamental characterization of backfire in a hydrogen fuelled spark ignition engine using CFD and experiments

Backfire, an abnormal combustion phenomenon, in a hydrogen fuelled spark ignition (SI) engine was analyzed using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and experimental tests. One of the main causes of backfire origin is the presence of any high temperature heat source including hot spot in the combustion chamber of the engine during intake process. A CFD based parametric study was carried out by varying the temperature of hot spot and its location in the combustion chamber of the engine in order to analyze their effects on backfire origin and its propagation in the intake manifold of the engine. The temperature of hot spot was varied from 800 K to till the temperature of backfire occurrence. The minimum temperature of hot spot at which backfire occurred was observed as 950 K and beyond. The probability of backfire occurrence increases with increase in hot spot temperature. The CFD simulations were also carried out by varying the location of hot spot (spark plug tip and exhaust valve) and the results indicate that the location of hot spot does not influence the characteristics of backfire but it affects the timing of its origin. The average backfire velocity is 230 m/s based on the average turbulent flame velocity during backfire propagation in the intake manifold and the value agreed reasonably well with the experimental observations of backfire propagation on the engine with the transparent intake manifold. Backfire propagation is under the category of deflagration based on its velocity (subsonic), and the maximum pressure gradient (<0.3 bar). The backfire phenomenon is characterized into three stages namely ignition delay for backfire, backfire propagation and its termination. The study results provide a better in-depth understanding of backfire origin and its propagation and would be helpful for developing a robust control strategy. Based on this study, it is recommended that the spark plug and exhaust valves of hydrogen fuelled SI engine should be customized in such a way that the temperature of spark plug tip and exhaust valves should not exceed 900 K during suction process in order to eliminate backfire occurrence.     

Realizing low emissions on a hydrogen-fueled spark ignition engine at the cold start period under rich combustion through ignition timing control

This paper analyzed low emissions on a hydrogen-fueled spark ignition (SI) engine at the cold start period under rich combustion through ignition timing (IT) control. Cold start characteristics of hydrogen-fueled engine were investigated experimentally. The study was performed under different IT. The results demonstrated that when excess air ratio (λ) was 0.7 and IT varied from 25 °CA BTDC to 10 °CA ATDC, the peak cylinder pressure of the first cycle and the successful start time (SST) of hydrogen engine first increased and then decreased with the retard of IT. At 15 °CA BTDC, the hydrogen engine gained the shortest SST and the highest cylinder pressure in the first cycle. Flame development period (CA0-10) first shortened and then lengthened, and flame propagation period (CA10-90) prolonged when IT gradually retarded. The average NOx emissions efficiently reduced by 90.2%, HC and CO emissions caused by the evaporated lubricant oil reduced individually by 33.8% and 19.7% in the first 6 s during the cold start process with the retard of IT. Especially when IT delayed from 25 °CA BTDC to 15 °CA BTDC, the effect of IT on HC emissions was significant.     

点燃式发动机燃烧过程模拟分析及临界爆震预测

建立了火花点火式发动机的双区燃烧模型，其中包括化学动力学模型和湍流火焰燃烧模型．改进的双区燃烧模型中，区别于以往的绝热模型，考虑了已燃区向未燃区的传热．该模型通过模拟火花点火式发动机的燃烧过程，尝试性地进行了临界爆震预测和爆震分析工作．模型的计算结果与实验结果吻合得较好，验证了该模型分析的可行性．     

Availability analysis of a coke oven gas fueled spark ignition engine

The current work investigates a coke oven gas fueled spark ignition (SI) engine from the perspective of the first and second laws in order to understand the energy conversion performance of fuels and achieve highly efficient utilization. A detailed energy and exergy analysis is applied to a quasi-dimensional two-zone spark ignition engine model which combines turbulence flame propagation speed model at 1500 rpm by changing gas fuel types, compression ratio, load and ignition timing. It was found that the irreversibility of methane is the maximum and that of syngas is the minimum among the three different fuels. The irreversibility in the combustion process of a coke oven gas fueled SI engine is reduced when the compression ratio or the throttle valve opening angle is increased and the ignition timing is delayed. Increasing the compression ratio and delaying the ignition timing can improve the first and second law efficiency and reduce the brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC). The power performance and fuel economy are good and the energy is also used effectively when the compression ratio is 11, the throttle angle is 90% and the ignition time is ?10° CA ATDC respectively.     

On the modeling of a SI 4-stroke cycle engine fueled with hydrogen-enriched gasoline

A detailed model to simulate a four-stroke cycle of a SI engine fueled with hydrogen-enriched gasoline is presented. The model includes calculations of the mass flow rates of the inflow and outflow through the valves, an empirical expression for the combustion process which has been modified to include the effect of the hydrogen enrichment on the combustion rate, a model for the ignition delay, a practical approach for the heat transfer through the cylinder wall, and an SAE recommended expression for the mechanical efficiency. The model has been used to predict the optimal amount of hydrogen supplement, and the required spark advance for best engine performances. Dynamometer test results, in which a 2310 cc passenger vehicle was fueled with hydrogen-enriched gasoline, was used to calibrate the proposed model. The hydrogen was supplied from a bottled storage of gaseous hydrogen. In general, very good agreement between predictions and experimental results was obtained in the entire experimental range.     

Comparative combustion characteristics of gasoline and hydrogen fuelled ICEs

In this paper, some models of comparative combustion characteristics for gasoline and hydrogen fuelled spark ignition internal combustion engines were developed and discussed from a thermodynamic and heat transfer perspective. The geometry used was that of a 3.4L GM V6 engine with a compression ratio of 9.5:1. Models for mass fraction burned, pressure, temperature, and gas speed were developed according to the literature survey and graphed over the cycle range. Furthermore, Pressure–Volume and Temperature–Entropy models were developed for both gasoline and hydrogen fuelled engines. Analysis of these models indicated approximately a 6.42% increase thermal efficiency for the hydrogen fuelled engine due to less exhaust blow down, less heat rejection during the exhaust stroke, and its shorter combustion duration closer to TDC. However, it was found that the hydrogen fuelled engine had approximately a 35.0% decrease in power output at an equivalence ratio of 1.0 due to the decrease in MEP and a greater amount of heat transfer to the cooling system due to the increased combustion temperatures, shorter quenching distance associated with H₂ combustion and greater flame speed. Finally, an increase in cycle temperatures and pressures was observed from increasing the equivalence ratio from 0.4 to 1.0 to 1.2.     

Study on homogeneous charge compression ignition combustion in argon circulated closed cycle hydrogen engine

It is important to improve thermal efficiency and to reduce harmful exhaust gas emissions in internal combustion engines. A closed cycle engine system that uses a monatomic molecular gas as the working fluid can be expected to have high thermal efficiency due to the high specific heat ratio of the gas. Several studies have been reported on closed cycle engines with conventional spark ignition or compression ignition. This research newly proposes an argon circulated closed cycle homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) engine system fueled with hydrogen. In this engine system, effects of in-cylinder gas initial temperature and residual water in recirculated gas on combustion characteristics were investigated. The results show that the system with argon circulation has the wider range of operable conditions and the higher thermal efficiency compared to the case with air as the working fluid.     

Towards the understanding of cyclic variability in a spark ignited engine using multi-cycle LES

Large-Eddy Simulation (LES) has been used to analyze the occurrence and the causes of cycle-to-cycle combustion variations in a spark ignited four-valve single cylinder engine fueled with a homogeneous propane-air mixture. The combustion modeling combines an Eulerian model derived from the RANS AKTIM model that mimics the spark ignition and the Extended Coherent Flame Model (ECFM-LES) that describes the flame propagation. The motion of piston and valves is accounted for using an Arbitrary Eulerian Lagrangian (ALE) technique with body-fitted meshes. The computation covers nine consecutive complete four-stroke cycles following an initialization cycle. The obtained LES results are compared with experimental measurements. Although the number of computed cycles is fairly low, LES is shown to be able to reproduce both quantitatively and qualitatively the cyclic variability observed experimentally. The investigation of the possible causes of variability illustrates the unprecedented possibility LES offers for understanding cycle-to-cycle variations.     

Particulate emissions from laser ignited and spark ignited hydrogen fueled engines

Exponentially increasing energy demand and stricter emission legislations have motivated researchers to explore alternative fuels and advanced engine technologies, which are more efficient and environment friendly. In last two decades, hydrogen has emerged as promising alternative fuel for internal combustion (IC) engines and vehicles. For gaseous fuels, laser ignition (LI) has emerged as a novel ignition technique due to its superior characteristics, leading to improved combustion, engine performance and emission characteristics. Numerous advantages of LI system such as flexibility of plasma location, lower NO_x emissions and capability of igniting ultra-lean fuel–air mixture makes LI system superior compared to conventional spark ignition (SI) system. This study experimentally compares particulate emissions from hydrogen fueled engine ignited by LI and SI systems. Experiments were performed in a constant speed engine prototype, which was suitably modified to operate on gaseous fuels using both LI as well as SI systems. Particulate were characterized using engine exhaust particle sizer (EEPS) spectrometer. Results showed that LI engine resulted in relatively higher particulate number concentration as well as particulate mass compared to SI engine. In both ignition systems, particulate emissions increased with increasing engine load however rate of increase was relatively higher in LI system. Relatively larger count mean diameter (CMD) of particulate emitted from SI engine compared to LI engine was another important observation. This showed emission of relatively smaller particles in larger numbers from LI engine, compared to baseline SI engine.