This content is not included in
your SAE MOBILUS subscription, or you are not logged in.
Some Experimental Investigations on Catalytic Combustion of Lean Burn S.I. Engine
Technical Paper
1992-25-0235
Sector:
Event:
ISATA 1992
Language:
English
Abstract
Many efforts have been made to improve the performance, fuel
economy, combustion characteristics and emissions of automotive
S.I. engines. One of the effective methods to achieve this is the
lean burn combustion. In a conventional S.I. engine it is very
difficult to achieve lean combustion due to misfiring, partial and
unstable combustion and low flame speeds. However these problems
can be solved by providing a suitable combustion chamber shape,
using higher ignition energy, using alternative fuels and providing
catalytic coating in the combustion chamber to speed up combustion
process. To date, catalysts have been used on motor vehicles solely
for reducing exhaust emissions. However, if these catalysts are
used in the combustion chamber, then the advantage of improved
brake thermal efficiency in addition to lower emissions can be
obtained.
Experimental investigations were made by coating copper as a
catalyst by electro-plating process on the piston crown with lower
and higher ignition energy systems at compression ratios of 8.5 and
12:1.
Test results indicate that the brake thermal efficiency is
improved by 11% and brake power by 18.6%. HC and CO emissions are
found to be lower. The lean misfire limit is extended from 23.5:1
to 25.5:1.