The Effects of Intake Flow Swirl on the Combustion Characteristics of Hydrogen Fueled HCCI Engines

Author(s):  
Chengke Liu ◽  
Ghazi A. Karim

This paper describes the effects of the initial intake flow swirl on the combustion process of hydrogen-air homogeneous mixtures in HCCI engines. CFD KIVA3 code incorporated with detailed chemical kinetics was employed. The effects on the development and extent of non-uniformities in velocity, pressure, and temperature within the cylinder charge were investigated. Moreover, the effects of the initial flow swirl ratio values on the onset of autoignition and its timing, combustion duration, NOx emissions, and the onset of knock were evaluated. It is shown that an increase in the initial flow swirl ratio or speed lengthens the delay period for autoignition and extends the combustion period while reducing NOx emissions. There are optimum values of the initial swirl ratio and engine speed for a certain set of engine operating conditions that can achieve high thermal efficiencies and low NOx emissions while reducing the tendency to knock.

Author(s):  
Samveg Saxena ◽  
Iván Dario Bedoya ◽  
Nihar Shah ◽  
Amol Phadke

This paper presents a detailed exergy analysis of homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) engines, including a crank-angle resolved breakdown of mixture exergy and exergy destruction. Exergy analysis is applied to a multi-zone HCCI simulation including detailed chemical kinetics. The HCCI simulation is validated against engine experiments for ethanol-fueled operation. The exergy analysis quantifies the relative importance of different loss mechanisms within HCCI engines over a range of engine operating conditions. Specifically, four loss mechanisms are studied for their relative impact on exergy losses, including 1) the irreversible combustion process (16.4–21.5%), 2) physical exergy lost to exhaust gases (12.0–18.7%), 3) heat losses (3.9–17.1%), and 4) chemical exergy lost to incomplete combustion (4.7–37.8%). The trends in each loss mechanism are studied in relation to changes in intake pressure, equivalence ratio, and engine speed as these parameters are directly used to vary engine power output. This exergy analysis methodology is proposed as a tool to inform research and design processes, particularly by identifying the relative importance of each loss mechanism in determining engine operating efficiency.


Author(s):  
Samveg Saxena ◽  
Iván Dario Bedoya ◽  
Nihar Shah ◽  
Amol Phadke

This paper presents a detailed exergy analysis of homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) engines, including a crank-angle resolved breakdown of mixture exergy and exergy destruction. Exergy analysis is applied to a multizone HCCI simulation including detailed chemical kinetics. The HCCI simulation is validated against engine experiments for ethanol-fueled operation. The exergy analysis quantifies the relative importance of different loss mechanisms within HCCI engines over a range of engine operating conditions. Specifically, four loss mechanisms are studied for their relative impact on exergy losses, including (1) the irreversible combustion process (16.4%–21.5%), (2) physical exergy lost to exhaust gases (12.0%–18.7%), (3) heat losses (3.9%–17.1%), and (4) chemical exergy lost to incomplete combustion (4.7%–37.8%). The trends in each loss mechanism are studied in relation to changes in intake pressure, equivalence ratio, and engine speed as these parameters are directly used to vary engine power output. This exergy analysis methodology is proposed as a tool to inform research and design processes, particularly by identifying the relative importance of each loss mechanism in determining engine operating efficiency.


2018 ◽  
Vol 141 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
P. R. Resende ◽  
Alexandre Afonso ◽  
Carlos Pinho ◽  
Mohsen Ayoobi

Combustion characteristics at small scales have been studied continuously due to the potential applications in portable power devices. It is known that heat release impacts at small scales result in different flame behavior as compared to conventional scales. The impacts of geometry, stoichiometry, flow rates, wall temperatures, etc., are widely studied in the literature. However, dilution impacts still need to be further studied due to its important role on controlling the flame behavior and subsequent pollutants emissions at these scales. In this work, premixed hydrogen/air combustion is simulated at an axis-symmetric microchannel (with diameter D = 0.8 mm and length L = 10 mm), where detailed chemical kinetics are implemented in simulations (32 species and 173 reactions). The heat transfer on the wall is considered by imposing a hyperbolic temperature profile on the wall, where the wall temperature increases from 300 K at the inlet to 1300 K at the outlet. With this setup, a range of equivalence ratios including a typical fuel-lean regime (ϕ = 0.7), stoichiometric regime (ϕ = 1.0), and two cases at an ultra-rich regime (ϕ = 2.0 and ϕ = 3.0) are investigated. For each equivalence ratio, excess dilution (using N2) is introduced to the mixture, and its impact is compared with other cases. With that, the impacts of dilution variations on the combustion characteristics of premixed hydrogen/air are investigated for different equivalence ratios. More specifically, several incidents such as flame dynamics, flame stabilization, extinctions, and NOx emissions are studied for the aforementioned operating conditions.


Author(s):  
Zhu (Julie) Meng ◽  
Robert J. Hoffa ◽  
Charles A. DeMilo ◽  
Todd T. Thamer

The combustion process in gas-turbine engines produces emissions, especially nitrogen oxides (NOx) and carbon monoxide (CO), which change dramatically with combustor operating conditions. As part of this study, the application of active feedback control technologies to reduce thermal NOx emissions is modeled numerically and demonstrated experimentally. A new optical flame sensor, designed by Ametek Power & Industrial Products, has been successfully implemented as the feedback element in a proof-of-concept control system used to minimize NOx emissions. The sensor consists of a robust mechanical package, as well as electronics suitable for severe gas-turbine environments. Results from system rig tests correlate closely to theoretical predictions, as described in literature and produced by a control system simulation model. The control system simulation model predicts the efficacy of controlling engine operating characteristics based on chemical luminescence of the OH radical. The model consists of a fuel pump and metering device, a fuel-air mixing scheme, a combustion model, the new ultraviolet (UV) feedback flame sensor, and a simple gain block. The input reference to the proportional emissions control is the fuel-to-air equivalence ratio, which is empirically correlated to the desired low level of NOx emissions while satisfying other operating conditions, such as CO emissions and power. Results from the closed-loop emissions control simulation and rig tests were analyzed to determine the capability of the UV flame sensor to measure and control the combustion process in a gas-turbine engine. The response characteristics, overshoot percentage, rise time, settling time, accuracy, resolution, and repeatability are addressed.


Author(s):  
Eduardo Barrientos ◽  
Ivan Bortel ◽  
Michal Takats ◽  
Jiri Vavra

Engine induced swirl improves mixing of fuel and air and at optimal values accelerates burn, improves the combustion stability and can decrease particulate matter (PM). However, swirl increases convective heat loss and cylinder charge loss and could increase nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions. High intensity of swirl could impede flame development and increases emissions of total hydrocarbons (THC) and carbon monoxide (CO). Therefore, careful and smart selection of optimal swirl values is paramount in order to obtain beneficial impact on combustion and emissions performance. This study is conducted on a 0.5L single cylinder research engine with common rail (CR) diesel injection system, with parameters corresponding to modern engines of passenger cars. The engine has three separate ports in the cylinder head. The change of swirl ratio is defined by closing appropriate ports. There are three levels of swirl ratio under study — 1.7, 2.9 and 4.5, corresponding to low, medium and high swirl levels respectively. This study highlights the influence of intake induced swirl on combustion parameters and emissions. Assessed combustion parameters are, among others, heat release rate, cylinder pressure rise and indicated mean effective pressure. Assessed emissions are standard gaseous emissions and smoke, with emphasis on PM emissions. An engine speed of 1500 rpm was selected, which well represents common driving conditions of this engine size. Various common rail pressures are used at ambient inlet manifold pressure (without boost pressure) and at 1 bar boosted pressure mode. It is found that when the swirl level is increased, the faster heat release during the premixed combustion and during early diffusion-controlled combustion causes a quick increase in both in-cylinder pressure and temperature, thus promoting the formation of NOx. However, since swirl enhances mixing and potentially produces a leaning effect, PM formation is reduced in general. However, maximum peak temperature is lower for high swirl ratio and boosted modes due to the increase of heat transfer into cylinder walls. Furthermore, it is necessary to find optimal values of common rail pressures and swirl ratio. Too much mixing allows increase on PM, THC and CO emissions without decrease on NOx emissions in general. Common rail injection system provides enough energy to achieve good mixing during all the injection time in the cases of supercharged modes and high common rail pressure modes. Positive influence of swirl ratio is found at lower boost pressures, lower revolution levels and at lower engine loads. The results obtained here help providing a better understanding on the swirl effects on diesel engine combustion and exhaust emissions over a range of engine operating conditions, with the ultimate goal of finding optimal values of swirl operation.


Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 1738
Author(s):  
Zhenhao Tang ◽  
Xiaoyan Wu ◽  
Shengxian Cao

A data-driven modeling method with feature selection capability is proposed for the combustion process of a station boiler under multi-working conditions to derive a nonlinear optimization model for the boiler combustion efficiency under various working conditions. In this approach, the principal component analysis method is employed to reconstruct new variables as the input of the predictive model, reduce the over-fitting of data and improve modeling accuracy. Then, a k-nearest neighbors algorithm is used to classify the samples to distinguish the data by the different operating conditions. Based on the classified data, a least square support vector machine optimized by the differential evolution algorithm is established. Based on the boiler key parameter model, the proposed model attempts to maximize the combustion efficiency under the boiler load constraints, the nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions constraints and the boundary constraints. The experimental results based on the actual production data, as well as the comparative analysis demonstrate: (1) The predictive model can accurately predict the boiler key parameters and meet the demands of boiler combustion process control and optimization; (2) The model predictive control algorithm can effectively control the boiler combustion efficiency, the average errors of simulation are less than 5%. The proposed model predictive control method can improve the quality of production, reduce energy consumption, and lay the foundation for enterprises to achieve high efficiency and low emission.


Author(s):  
Juncheng Li ◽  
Zhiyu Han ◽  
Cai Shen ◽  
Chia-fon Lee

In this paper, the effects of the start of injection (SOI) timing and exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) rate on the nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions of a biodiesel-powered diesel engine are studied with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) coupling with a chemical kinetics model. The KIVA code coupling with a CHEMKIN-II chemistry solver is applied to the simulation of the in-cylinder combustion process. A surrogate biodiesel mechanism consisting of two fuel components is employed as the combustion model of soybean biodiesel. The in-cylinder combustion processes of the cases with four injection timings and three EGR rates are simulated. The simulation results show that the calculated NOx emissions of the cases with default EGR rate are reduced by 20.3% and 32.9% when the injection timings are delayed by 2- and 4-deg crank angle, respectively. The calculated NOx emissions of the cases with 24.0% and 28.0% EGR are reduced by 38.4% and 62.8%, respectively, compared to that of the case with default SOI and 19.2% EGR. But higher EGR rate deteriorates the soot emission. When EGR rate is 28.0% and SOI is advanced by 2 deg, the NOx emission is reduced by 55.1% and soot emission is controlled as that of the case with 24% EGR and default SOI. The NOx emissions of biodiesel combustion can be effectively improved by SOI retardation or increasing EGR rate. Under the studied engine operating conditions, introducing more 4.8% EGR into the intake air with unchanged SOI is more effective for NOx emission controlling than that of 4-deg SOI retardation with default EGR rate.


2012 ◽  
Vol 608-609 ◽  
pp. 269-274
Author(s):  
Qi Min Wu ◽  
Ping Sun ◽  
De Qing Mei ◽  
Zhen Chen

In this paper, two kinds of micro-emulsified biodiesel containing 5.6% and10% water are prepared. The effects of micro-emulsified biodiesel on engine’s power, combustion and emission characteristics are investigated in a DI diesel engine. The results show that under the rated speed and full load operating conditions, the maximum pressure rise rate and peak heat release rate for micro-emulsified biodiesel increase dramatically, while the ignition delay is prolonged and the combustion duration becomes shorter. Compared to base diesel, the HC, CO and smoke emissions from the engine fueled with biodiesel decrease sharply, except for a 9% increased NOx at large loads. However, micro-biodiesel could significantly reduce the NOx and smoke emissions, except for the higher HC and CO emissions at low and medium loads. When fuelled with 10%MB, the NOx and smoke emissions are 9% and 90% lower than that of diesel, respectively. Results reported here suggest that the application of micro-emulsified biodiesel in diesel engines has a potential to improve combustion process and reduce NOx, PM emissions simultaneously.


Author(s):  
Sebastian Göke ◽  
Sebastian Schimek ◽  
Steffen Terhaar ◽  
Thoralf Reichel ◽  
Katharina Göckeler ◽  
...  

In the current study, the influence of pressure and steam on the emission formation in a premixed natural gas flame is investigated at pressures between 1.5 bar and 9 bar. A premixed, swirl-stabilized combustor is developed that provides a stable flame up to very high steam contents. Combustion tests are conducted at different pressure levels for equivalence ratios from lean blowout to near-stoichiometric conditions and steam-to-air mass ratios from 0% to 25%. A reactor network is developed to model the combustion process. The simulation results match the measured NOx and CO concentrations very well for all operating conditions. The reactor network is used for a detailed investigation of the influence of steam and pressure on the NOx formation pathways. In the experiments, adding 20% steam reduces NOx and CO emissions to below 10 ppm at all tested pressures up to near-stoichiometric conditions. Pressure scaling laws are derived: CO changes with a pressure exponent of approximately −0.5 that is not noticeably affected by the steam. For the NOx emissions, the exponent increases with equivalence ratio from 0.1 to 0.65 at dry conditions. At a steam-to-air mass ratio of 20%, the NOx pressure exponent is reduced to −0.1 to +0.25. The numerical analysis reveals that steam has a strong effect on the combustion chemistry. The reduction in NOx emissions is mainly caused by lower concentrations of atomic oxygen at steam-diluted conditions, constraining the thermal pathway.


2014 ◽  
Vol 564 ◽  
pp. 8-12
Author(s):  
A. R. Najihah ◽  
A.A. Nuraini ◽  
Othman Inayatullah

A zero dimensional thermodynamic model simulation is developed to simulate the combustion characteristics and performance of a four stroke homogeneous compression combustion ignition (HCCI) engine fueled with gasoline. This model which applies the first law of thermodynamics for a closed system is inclusive of empirical model for predicting the important parameters for engine cycles: the combustion timing and mass burnt fraction during the combustion process. The hypothesis is the increasing intake temperature can reduce the combustion duration and the fuel consumption at wide range of equivalence ratio. The intake temperature were increased from 373-433 K with increment of 20 K. The engine was operated over a range of equivalence ratios of 0.2 to 0.5 at constant engine speed of 1200 rpm and intake pressure of 89,950 k Pa. Simulations were performed using Simulink® under different engine operating conditions. Increasing intake temperature allows reducing the combustion duration by 0.99 °CA and 0.26 °CA at equivalence ratios of 0.2 and 0.5, respectively. The brake specific fuel consumption decreases about 6.09%-5.76% at 0.2-0.5 of equivalence ratios. Thus, fuel consumption can be reduced by increasing intake temperature.


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