Performance of a Spark Ignition Engine Fueled by Natural Gas Using Oxygen Enriched Air

Abstract

<div class="htmlview paragraph">The purpose of this paper is to outline the effects of oxygen enrichment on the performance of a spark ignited single cylinder Ricardo research engine fueled with natural gas.</div> <div class="htmlview paragraph">Substituting gasoline with natural gas, under stoichiometric conditions, brings about a decrease in power output of a dedicated gasoline engine. This reduction in power is quantified in this paper for both fuels under stoichiometric conditions as well as for different fueling rates, for natural gas.</div> <div class="htmlview paragraph">Subsequently, the effects of oxygen enrichment are reviewed in terms of: <ul class="list disc"> <li class="list-item"><div class="htmlview paragraph">volumetric efficiency,</div></li> <li class="list-item"><div class="htmlview paragraph">flame propagation velocity,</div></li> <li class="list-item"><div class="htmlview paragraph">coolant temperature, exhaust gas temperature,</div></li> <li class="list-item"><div class="htmlview paragraph">spark advance,</div></li> <li class="list-item"><div class="htmlview paragraph">brake mean effective pressure,</div></li> <li class="list-item"><div class="htmlview paragraph">brake horsepower.</div></li> </ul></div> <div class="htmlview paragraph">The use of oxygen enriched air results essentially in: <ol class="list nostyle"> <li class="list-item"><span class="li-label">1</span> <div class="htmlview paragraph">a significant increase in brake horsepower,</div></li> <li class="list-item"><span class="li-label">2</span> <div class="htmlview paragraph">improved lean limits and reduction of spark advance,</div></li> <li class="list-item"><span class="li-label">3</span> <div class="htmlview paragraph">a lower brake thermal efficiency. However under all testing conditions, brake thermal efficiencies was higher on natural gas than on gasoline.</div></li> </ol></div>