Parametric Knocking Performance Investigation of Spark Ignition Natural Gas Engines and Dual Fuel Engines

Both spark ignition (SI) natural gas engines and compression ignition (CI) dual fuel (DF) engines suffer from knocking when the unburnt mixture ignites spontaneously prior to the flame front arrival. In this study, a parametric investigation is performed on the knocking performance of these two engi...

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Main Authors: La Xiang, Gerasimos Theotokatos, Haining Cui, Keda Xu, Hongkai Ben, Yu Ding
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-06-01
Series:Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/8/6/459
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author La Xiang
Gerasimos Theotokatos
Haining Cui
Keda Xu
Hongkai Ben
Yu Ding
author_facet La Xiang
Gerasimos Theotokatos
Haining Cui
Keda Xu
Hongkai Ben
Yu Ding
author_sort La Xiang
collection DOAJ
description Both spark ignition (SI) natural gas engines and compression ignition (CI) dual fuel (DF) engines suffer from knocking when the unburnt mixture ignites spontaneously prior to the flame front arrival. In this study, a parametric investigation is performed on the knocking performance of these two engine types by using the GT-Power software. An SI natural gas engine and a DF engine are modelled by employing a two-zone zero-dimensional combustion model, which uses Wiebe function to determine the combustion rate and provides adequate prediction of the unburnt zone temperature, which is crucial for the knocking prediction. The developed models are validated against experimentally measured parameters and are subsequently used for performing parametric investigations. The derived results are analysed to quantify the effect of the compression ratio, air-fuel equivalence ratio and ignition timing on both engines as well as the effect of pilot fuel energy proportion on the DF engine. The results demonstrate that the compression ratio of the investigated SI and DF engines must be limited to 11 and 16.5, respectively, for avoiding knocking occurrence. The ignition timing for the SI and the DF engines must be controlled after −38°CA and 3°CA, respectively. A higher pilot fuel energy proportion between 5% and 15% results in increasing the knocking tendency and intensity for the DF Engine at high loads. This study results in better insights on the impacts of the investigated engine design and operating settings for natural gas (NG)-fuelled engines, thus it can provide useful support for obtaining the optimal settings targeting a desired combustion behaviour and engine performance while attenuating the knocking tendency.
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spelling doaj.art-c7cbfab78599434cb130f11fc6ba851b2023-11-20T04:35:19ZengMDPI AGJournal of Marine Science and Engineering2077-13122020-06-018645910.3390/jmse8060459Parametric Knocking Performance Investigation of Spark Ignition Natural Gas Engines and Dual Fuel EnginesLa Xiang0Gerasimos Theotokatos1Haining Cui2Keda Xu3Hongkai Ben4Yu Ding5College of Power and Energy Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin 150001, ChinaMaritime Safety Research Centre, Department of Naval Architecture, Ocean and Marine Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland G1 1XQ, UKCollege of Power and Energy Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin 150001, ChinaCollege of Power and Energy Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin 150001, ChinaCollege of Power and Energy Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin 150001, ChinaCollege of Power and Energy Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin 150001, ChinaBoth spark ignition (SI) natural gas engines and compression ignition (CI) dual fuel (DF) engines suffer from knocking when the unburnt mixture ignites spontaneously prior to the flame front arrival. In this study, a parametric investigation is performed on the knocking performance of these two engine types by using the GT-Power software. An SI natural gas engine and a DF engine are modelled by employing a two-zone zero-dimensional combustion model, which uses Wiebe function to determine the combustion rate and provides adequate prediction of the unburnt zone temperature, which is crucial for the knocking prediction. The developed models are validated against experimentally measured parameters and are subsequently used for performing parametric investigations. The derived results are analysed to quantify the effect of the compression ratio, air-fuel equivalence ratio and ignition timing on both engines as well as the effect of pilot fuel energy proportion on the DF engine. The results demonstrate that the compression ratio of the investigated SI and DF engines must be limited to 11 and 16.5, respectively, for avoiding knocking occurrence. The ignition timing for the SI and the DF engines must be controlled after −38°CA and 3°CA, respectively. A higher pilot fuel energy proportion between 5% and 15% results in increasing the knocking tendency and intensity for the DF Engine at high loads. This study results in better insights on the impacts of the investigated engine design and operating settings for natural gas (NG)-fuelled engines, thus it can provide useful support for obtaining the optimal settings targeting a desired combustion behaviour and engine performance while attenuating the knocking tendency.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/8/6/459knocking performancespark ignition natural gas enginedual fuel enginesimulationparametric investigation
spellingShingle La Xiang
Gerasimos Theotokatos
Haining Cui
Keda Xu
Hongkai Ben
Yu Ding
Parametric Knocking Performance Investigation of Spark Ignition Natural Gas Engines and Dual Fuel Engines
Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
knocking performance
spark ignition natural gas engine
dual fuel engine
simulation
parametric investigation
title Parametric Knocking Performance Investigation of Spark Ignition Natural Gas Engines and Dual Fuel Engines
title_full Parametric Knocking Performance Investigation of Spark Ignition Natural Gas Engines and Dual Fuel Engines
title_fullStr Parametric Knocking Performance Investigation of Spark Ignition Natural Gas Engines and Dual Fuel Engines
title_full_unstemmed Parametric Knocking Performance Investigation of Spark Ignition Natural Gas Engines and Dual Fuel Engines
title_short Parametric Knocking Performance Investigation of Spark Ignition Natural Gas Engines and Dual Fuel Engines
title_sort parametric knocking performance investigation of spark ignition natural gas engines and dual fuel engines
topic knocking performance
spark ignition natural gas engine
dual fuel engine
simulation
parametric investigation
url https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/8/6/459
work_keys_str_mv AT laxiang parametricknockingperformanceinvestigationofsparkignitionnaturalgasenginesanddualfuelengines
AT gerasimostheotokatos parametricknockingperformanceinvestigationofsparkignitionnaturalgasenginesanddualfuelengines
AT hainingcui parametricknockingperformanceinvestigationofsparkignitionnaturalgasenginesanddualfuelengines
AT kedaxu parametricknockingperformanceinvestigationofsparkignitionnaturalgasenginesanddualfuelengines
AT hongkaiben parametricknockingperformanceinvestigationofsparkignitionnaturalgasenginesanddualfuelengines
AT yuding parametricknockingperformanceinvestigationofsparkignitionnaturalgasenginesanddualfuelengines