Effect of hydrogen peroxide addition to methane fueled homogeneous charge compression ignition engines through numerical simulations

The effect of the direct injection of hydrogen peroxide into a port-injected methane fueled homogeneous charge compression ignition engine was investigated numerically. The injection of aqueous hydrogen peroxide was implemented as a means of combustion phasing control. A single cylinder homogeneous charge compression ignition engine (2.43 L Caterpillar) was modeled using the Cantera 2.0 flame code toolkit, the GRI-Mech 3.0 chemical reaction mechanism, and a single-zone slider-crank engine model. Start of injection timing and the amount of injected hydrogen peroxide were manipulated to achieve desired combustion phasing under a wide range of intake temperatures. As the concentration of hydrogen peroxide is increased, the combustion phasing is advanced up to 22 degrees for the conditions investigated in this study. This advancing effect is most pronounced at small concentrations (< 10 g H2O2 / kg CH4) and early injection timings (SOI < 25 degrees BTDC). The model suggests hydrogen peroxide can be introduced as a means of combustion phasing control while maintaining the low emissions and peak in-cylinder pressures inherent in homogeneous charge compression ignition engines.