A comparison between direct spark ignition and prechamber ignition in an internal combustion engine
We simulated the flow field and flame propagation near top dead center in a generic large-bore internal combustion engine using the COYOTE computer program, which is based on the full Navier-Stokes equations for a fluid mixture. The combustion chamber is a right circular cylinder, and the main charge is uniformly premixed. The calculations are axisymmetric. The results illustrate the differences in flow patterns, flame propagation, and thermal NO production between ignition with a spark plug and with a small prechamber. In the spark-ignited case, the flame propagates away from the spark plug approximately as a segment of a spherical surface, just as expected. With the prechamber, a high speed jet of hot combustion products shoots into the main chamber, quickly producing a large flame sheet that spreads along the piston face. The prechamber run consumes all of the fuel in half the time required by the spark-ignited case. The two cases produce comparable amounts of thermal NO at the end of fuel combustion.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States); Gas Research Inst., Chicago, IL (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 10133300
- Report Number(s):
- UCRL-JC-115803; CONF-940711-11; ON: DE94008218
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 25. international symposium on combustion,Irvine, CA (United States),31 Jul - 5 Aug 1994; Other Information: PBD: 3 Dec 1993
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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42 ENGINEERING
33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
FLAME PROPAGATION
FLUID MECHANICS
C CODES
NATURAL GAS
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SPARK IGNITION ENGINES
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COMBUSTION KINETICS
NAVIER-STOKES EQUATIONS
NITRIC OXIDE
032000
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TRANSPORT, HANDLING, AND STORAGE
COMBUSTION SYSTEMS