A Numerical Investigation on NO2 Formation in a Natural Gas–Diesel Dual Fuel Engine

2018 ◽  
Vol 140 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Li ◽  
Hailin Li ◽  
Hongsheng Guo ◽  
Yongzhi Li ◽  
Mingfa Yao

This research numerically simulates the formation and destruction of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in a natural gas (NG)–diesel dual fuel engine using commercial CFD software converge coupled with a reduced primary reference fuel (PRF) mechanism consisting of 45 species and 142 reactions. The model was validated by comparing the simulated cylinder pressure, heat release rate (HRR), and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions with experimental data. The validated model was used to simulate the formation and destruction of NO2 in a NG–diesel dual fuel engine. The formation of NO2 and its correlation with the local concentration of nitric oxide (NO), methane, and temperature were examined and discussed. It was revealed that NO2 was mainly formed in the interface region between the hot NO-containing combustion products and the relatively cool unburnt methane–air mixture. The NO2 formed at the early combustion stage is usually destructed to NO after the complete oxidation of methane and n-heptane, while NO2 formed during the postcombustion process survives through the expansion process and exits the engine. The increased NO2 emissions from NG–diesel dual fuel engines was formed during the post combustion process due to higher concentration of HO2 produced during the oxidation process of the unburned methane at low temperature. A detailed analysis of the chemical reactions occurring in the NO2 containing zone consisting of NO2, NO, O2, methane, etc., was conducted using a quasi-homogeneous constant volume (QHCV) model to identify the key reactions and species dominating NO2 formation and destruction. The HO2 produced during the postcombustion process of methane was identified as the primary species dominating the formation of NO2 during the post combustion expansion process. The simulation revealed the key reaction path for the formation of HO2 noted as CH4 → CH3 → CH2O → HCO → HO2, with conversion ratios of 98%, 74%, 90%, 98%, accordingly. The backward reaction of OH + NO2 = NO + HO2 consumed 34% of HO2 for the production of NO2.

Author(s):  
Yu Li ◽  
Hailin Li ◽  
Yongzhi Li ◽  
Mingfa Yao ◽  
Hongsheng Guo

The burning of natural gas (NG) in compression ignition dual fuel engines has been highlighted for its fuel flexibility, higher thermal efficiency and reduced particulate matter (PM) emissions. Recent research has reported the significant impact of the introduction of NG to the intake port on nitrogen dioxide (NO2) emissions, particularly at the low loads. However, the research on the mechanism of NO2 formation in dual fuel engines has not been reported. This research simulates the formation and destruction of NO2 in a NG-diesel dual fuel engine using commercial CFD software CONVERGE coupled with a reduced primary reference fuel (PRF) mechanism consisting of 45 species and 142 reactions. The model was validated by comparing the simulated cylinder pressure, heat release rate, and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions with experimental data. The validated model was used to simulate the formation and destruction of NO2 in a NG-diesel dual fuel engine. The formation of NO2 and its correlation with the local concentration of nitric oxide (NO), methane, and temperature were examined and discussed. It was revealed that NO2 was mainly formed in the interface region between the hot NO-containing combustion products and the relatively cool unburnt methane-air mixture. NO2 formed at the early combustion stage is usually destructed to NO after the complete oxidation of methane and n-heptane, while NO2 formed during the post-combustion process would survive and exit the engine. This was supported by the distribution of NO and NO2 in the equivalence ratio (ER)-T diagram. A detailed analysis of the chemical reactions occurring in the NO2 containing zone consisting of NO2, NO, O2, methane, etc., was conducted using a quasi-homogeneous constant volume model to identify the key reactions and species dominating NO2 formation and destruction. The HO2 produced during the post combustion process of methane was identified as the primary species dominating the formation of NO2. The simulation revealed the key reaction path for the formation of HO2 noted as CH4->CH3->CH2O->HCO->HO2, with conversion ratios of 98%, 74%, 90%, 98%, accordingly. The backward reaction of OH+NO2 = NO+HO2 consumed 34% of HO2 for the production of NO2. It was concluded that the increased NO2 emissions from NG-diesel dual fuel engines was formed during the post combustion process due to higher concentration of HO2 produced during the oxidation process of the unburned methane at low temperature.


Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (18) ◽  
pp. 3410 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastian Schuh ◽  
Ajoy Kumar Ramalingam ◽  
Heiko Minwegen ◽  
Karl Alexander Heufer ◽  
Franz Winter

Dual fuel combustion exhibits a high degree of complexity due to the presence of different fuels like diesel and natural gas in initially different physical states and a spatially strongly varying mixing ratio. Optimizing this combustion process on an engine test bench is costly and time consuming. Cost reduction can be achieved by utilizing simulation tools. Although these tools cannot replace the application of test benches completely, the total development costs can be reduced by an educated combination of simulations and experiments. A suitable model for describing the reactions taking place in the combustion chamber is required to correctly reproduce the dual fuel combustion process. This is why in the presented study, four different reaction mechanisms are benchmarked to shock tube (ST) and rapid compression machine (RCM) measurements of ignition delay times (IDTs) at pressures between 60 and 100 bar and temperatures between 671 and 1284 K. To accommodate dual fuel relevant diesel-natural gas mixtures, methane–propane–n-heptane mixtures are considered as the surrogate. Additionally, the mechanisms AramcoMech 1.3, 2.0 and 3.0 are tested for methane–propane mixtures. The influence of pressure and propane/n-heptane content on the IDT based on the measurements is presented and the extent to which the mechanisms can reflect the IDT-changes discussed.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (14) ◽  
pp. 4307
Author(s):  
Roberta De Robbio ◽  
Maria Cristina Cameretti ◽  
Ezio Mancaruso ◽  
Raffaele Tuccillo ◽  
Bianca Maria Vaglieco

Dual fuel engines induce benefits in terms of pollutant emissions of PM and NOx together with carbon dioxide reduction and being powered by natural gas (mainly methane) characterized by a low C/H ratio. Therefore, using natural gas (NG) in diesel engines can be a viable solution to reevaluate this type of engine and to prevent its disappearance from the automotive market, as it is a well-established technology in both energy and transportation fields. It is characterized by high performance and reliability. Nevertheless, further improvements are needed in terms of the optimization of combustion development, a more efficient oxidation, and a more efficient exploitation of gaseous fuel energy. To this aim, in this work, a CFD numerical methodology is described to simulate the processes that characterize combustion in a light-duty diesel engine in dual fuel mode by analyzing the effects of the changes in engine speed on the interaction between fluid-dynamics and chemistry as well as when the diesel/natural gas ratio changes at constant injected diesel amount. With the aid of experimental data obtained at the engine test bench on an optically accessible research engine, models of a 3D code, i.e., KIVA-3V, were validated. The ability to view images of OH distribution inside the cylinder allowed us to better model the complex combustion phenomenon of two fuels with very different burning characteristics. The numerical results also defined the importance of this free radical that characterizes the areas with the greatest combustion activity.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 1342
Author(s):  
Van Chien Pham ◽  
Jae-Hyuk Choi ◽  
Beom-Seok Rho ◽  
Jun-Soo Kim ◽  
Kyunam Park ◽  
...  

This paper presents research on the combustion and emission characteristics of a four-stroke Natural gas–Diesel dual-fuel marine engine at full load. The AVL FIRE R2018a (AVL List GmbH, Graz, Austria) simulation software was used to conduct three-dimensional simulations of the combustion process and emission formations inside the engine cylinder in both diesel and dual-fuel mode to analyze the in-cylinder pressure, temperature, and emission characteristics. The simulation results were then compared and showed a good agreement with the measured values reported in the engine’s shop test technical data. The simulation results showed reductions in the in-cylinder pressure and temperature peaks by 1.7% and 6.75%, while NO, soot, CO, and CO2 emissions were reduced up to 96%, 96%, 86%, and 15.9%, respectively, in the dual-fuel mode in comparison with the diesel mode. The results also show better and more uniform combustion at the late stage of the combustions inside the cylinder when operating the engine in the dual-fuel mode. Analyzing the emission characteristics and the engine performance when the injection timing varies shows that, operating the engine in the dual-fuel mode with an injection timing of 12 crank angle degrees before the top dead center is the best solution to reduce emissions while keeping the optimal engine power.


2014 ◽  
Vol 525 ◽  
pp. 227-231 ◽  
Author(s):  
Min Xiao ◽  
Chun Long Feng

In order to solve the problem of Diesel natural gas dual fuel engine, such as power reduction, low charging efficiency, the conception of diesel engine fueled with pilot-ignited directly-injected liquefied natural gas is put forward. On the basis of this theory, a medium speed diesel of the marine is refitted into dual fuel engine, in order to keep original power, decrease the temperature of combustion and reduce emission. The LNG injection timing, duration of LNG injection and the different ratios the pilot diesel to total energy are studied the method of AVL FIRE software. Conclusions are as follows: When the different ratios pilot diesel to total energy is 0.5%, the engine can not work; Delaying the LNG injection timing, shortening the LNG injection duration and choose the right ratios pilot diesel to total energy can reach the indicated power of original machine, and the NOx emissions level will be greatly reduced.


Author(s):  
Sascha Andree ◽  
Dmitry Goryntsev ◽  
Martin Theile ◽  
Björn Henke ◽  
Karsten Schleef ◽  
...  

Abstract The simulation of a diesel natural gas dual fuel combustion process is the topic of this paper. Based on a detailed chemical reaction mechanism, which was applied for such a dual fuel combustion, the complete internal combustion engine process was simulated. Two single fuel combustion reaction mechanisms from literature were merged, to consider the simultaneous reaction paths of diesel and natural gas. N-heptane was chosen as a surrogate for diesel. The chemical reaction mechanisms are solved by applying a tabulation method using the software tool AVL Tabkin™. In combination with a Flamelet Generated Manifold (FGM) combustion model, this leads to a reduction of computational effort compared to a direct solving of the reaction mechanism, because of a decoupling of chemistry and flow calculations. Turbulence was modelled using an unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier Stokes (URANS) model. In comparison to conventional combustion models, this approach allows for detailed investigations of the complex ignition process of the dual fuel combustion process. The unexpected inversely proportional relationship between start of injection (SOI) and start of combustion (SOC), a later start of injection makes for an earlier combustion of the main load, is only one of these interesting combustion phenomena, which can now be analyzed in detail. Further investigations are done for different engine load points and multiple pilot injection strategies. The simulation results are confirmed by experimental measurements at a medium speed dual fuel single cylinder research engine.


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