Optimize combustion of compressed natural gas engine by improving in-cylinder flows

Abstract

In order to solve the problem of slow flame propagation in a spark-ignition engine fueled with compressed natural gas (CNG), the influence of in-cylinder flows on combustion process was investigated in CA6SE3-21E4N CNG-engine by means of numerical simulation and experiment. The status of in-cylinder flows from intake to expansion stroke was described by computational fluid dynamic tool, which revealed that the in-cylinder flows were one of the main reasons of slow burning rate. Therefore, a special-shaped combustion chamber called Cross was used to improve the in-cylinder flows. The results showed that peak turbulent kinetic energy of Cross was 43.9% higher than that of original combustion chamber called Cylinder during the late compression period at 1450 rpm 100% load. The combustion parameters, brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) and regulated emissions were obtained by means of experiment. At 1450rpm 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% load conditions, the ignition delay of Cross was longer than that of Cylinder, moreover, the Cross produced averagely 5.75°CA shorter combustion duration. The BSFC of Cross was on an average of 4.3% reduction at 1450 rpm as well as the HC and CO emissions were reduced whereas the NOx emissions were significantly increased.