Performance and sensitivity analysis of raw biogas combustion under homogenous charge compression ignition conditions

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the feasibility of using raw biogas as the main fuel in homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) engines and to identify the effects of different trace elements found in biogas on engine performance and emissions. This study was conducted using many models that simulate the operation of HCCI process. These models include the chemical kinetics, combustion model, and the heat transfer models. Raw biogas composition was selected based on the most available traces. The traces that were studied are Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S), Ammonia (NH3), Carbon monoxide (CO), Nitrogen (N2), Oxygen (O2), and Water vapor (H2O). Other parameters like the equivalence ratio, intake temperature, and pressure were also studied. It was found that raw biogas mixtures could produce higher power outputs in the presence of H2S and NH3. However, H2S and NH3 were found to increase the SOx and NOx percentages owing to their higher in-cylinder temperatures. Other traces such as CO and H2O can reduce the power output, but at the same time, they can reduce the engine NOx emissions but not the CO emissions. Engine performance was positively affected by increasing the intake pressure and equivalence ratio within the studied ranges. However, higher intake temperatures and reduce the engine efficiency and increase the engine emissions. On the other hand increasing the compression ratio (CR) increase the system efficiency but up to a certain limit. Considering the exhaust gas residual (EGR), this parameter reduce system performance but at the same time lower the NOx emissions significantly. A sensitivity analysis for the mentioned parameters indicates that EGR is the most effective parameter while CR are the least significant one.