Ignition, Flame Propagation, and End-Gas Autoignition Studies of Natural Gas/EGR Blends in a Rapid Compression Machine
- Colorado State University
The development of high efficiency, spark ignited natural gas engines is currently limited by engine knock at high power density (at high compression ratio and/or elevated boost pressures) and misfire (at lean conditions and/or high exhaust gas recirculation levels). The knock and misfire limits are further confounded by the wide variety in fuel reactivity observed in “pipeline quality” natural gas. In this study, a rapid compression machine (RCM) was used to characterize the effects of variation in natural gas fuel reactivity and exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) on homogeneous ignition delay, flame propagation rate and end-gas autoignition (EGAI) propensity for stoichiometric natural gas/oxidizer/EGR blends. Pipeline quality natural gas with variable reactivity (68 < Methane Number < 95) was simulated using mixtures of methane, ethane, and propane. EGR was simulated with mixtures of Ar, CO2, CO, and NO. EGR substitution rates were varied from 0 to 30 mass percent. Ignition delay period under homogeneous autoignition conditions was measured at compressed pressures of 24.0 to 33.1 bar and compressed temperatures of 667 to 980 K. Flame propagation rate and EGAI propensity was measured at spark-ignition pressures of 29.9 to 32.9 bar and temperatures of 721 to 782 K.
- Research Organization:
- Colorado State University
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Transportation Office. Vehicle Technologies Office
- DOE Contract Number:
- EE0008331
- OSTI ID:
- 1778112
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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