Effect of Chemical Hythane Composition on Pressure in Combustion Chamber of Engine

Abstract

The article analyzes the influence of chemical composition of hythane (a mixture of natural gas with hydrogen) on pressure in an engine combustion chamber. A review of the literature has showed the relevance of using hythane in transport energy industry, and also revealed a number of scientific papers devoted to studying the effect of hythane on environmental and traction-dynamic characteristics of the engine. We have studied a single-cylinder spark-ignited internal combustion engine. In the experiments, the varying factors are: engine speed (600 and 900 min-1), excess air ratio and hydrogen concentration in natural gas which are 29, 47 and 58% (volume).The article shows that at idling engine speed maximum pressure in combustion chamber depends on excess air ratio and proportion hydrogen in the air-fuel mixture – the poorer air-fuel mixture and greater addition of hydrogen is, the more intense pressure increases. The positive effect of hydrogen on pressure is explained by the fact that addition of hydrogen contributes to increase in heat of combustion fuel and rate propagation of the flame. As a result, during combustion, more heat is released, and the fuel itself burns in a smaller volume. Thus, the addition of hydrogen can ensure stable combustion of a lean air-fuel mixture without loss of engine power. Moreover, the article shows that, despite the change in engine speed, addition of hydrogen, excess air ratio, type of fuel (natural gas and gasoline), there is a power-law dependence of the maximum pressure in engine cylinder on combustion chamber volume. Processing and analysis of the results of the foreign and domestic researchers have showed that patterns we discovered are applicable to engines of different designs, operating at different speeds and using different hydrocarbon fuels. The results research presented allow us to reduce the time and material costs when creating new power plants using hythane and meeting modern requirements for power, economy and toxicity.