Performance of a Laser Ignited Multicylinder Lean Burn Natural Gas Engine

Journal Article · 06 June 2017 · Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4036621 · OSTI ID:1400269

Almansour, Bader ^[1]; Vasu, Subith ^[1]; Gupta, Sreenath B. ^[2]; Wang, Qing ^[3]; Van Leeuwen, Robert ^[3]; Ghosh, Chuni ^[3]

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1. Univ. of Central Florida, Orlando, FL (United States)
2. Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Lemont, IL (United States)
3. Princeton Optronics, Inc., Mercerville, NJ (United States)

Market demands for lower fueling costs and higher specific powers in stationary natural gas engines has engine designs trending towards higher in-cylinder pressures and leaner combustion operation. However, Ignition remains as the main limiting factor in achieving further performance improvements in these engines. Addressing this concern, while incorporating various recent advances in optics and laser technologies, laser igniters were designed and developed through numerous iterations. Final designs incorporated water-cooled, passively Q-switched, Nd:YAG micro-lasers that were optimized for stable operation under harsh engine conditions. Subsequently, the micro-lasers were installed in the individual cylinders of a lean-burn, 350 kW, inline 6-cylinder, open-chamber, spark ignited engine and tests were conducted. To the best of our knowledge, this is the world’s first demonstration of a laser ignited multi-cylinder natural gas engine. The engine was operated at high-load (298 kW) and rated speed (1800 rpm) conditions. Ignition timing sweeps and excess-air ratio (λ) sweeps were performed while keeping the NOx emissions below the USEPA regulated value (BSNOx < 1.34 g/kW-hr), and while maintaining ignition stability at industry acceptable values (COV_IMEP <5 %). Through such engine tests, the relative merits of (i) standard electrical ignition system, and (ii) laser ignition system were determined. In conclusion, a rigorous combustion data analysis was performed and the main reasons leading to improved performance in the case of laser ignition were identified.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Energy Efficiency Office. Advanced Manufacturing Office
• Grant/Contract Number: AC02-06CH11357
• OSTI ID: 1400269
• Journal Information: Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, Vol. 139, Issue 11; ISSN 0742-4795
• Publisher: ASMECopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English