This content is not included in
your SAE MOBILUS subscription, or you are not logged in.
Investigation of a Lean-Burn Piston Engine with Catalytic Prechamber
Annotation ability available
Sector:
Language:
English
Abstract
Lean burning in piston engines gives opportunity to achieve important enviromental and fuel economy objectives. Unfortunately, lean mixtures are not readily ignited and are characterized by poor flame propagation. Thus, techniques which enhance ignition, flame formation and its propagation must be applied, if lean combustion is to be reliably sustained. To overcome difficulties related to the lean burning, it has been proposed to equip the engine cylinders with prechambers, containing catalytic inserts, shaped in form of an open coil. The coils not only facilitate ignition but also generate turbulence, to intensify the combustion process in prechamber.
A four-cylinder Diesel engine has been adapted for experiments aimed at confirmation of the effectiveness of the catalytic action on operation of the system.
The modification of Diesel engine to the Otto cycle was performed in a simple way, i.e. by replacing fuel injectors with prechambers equipped with ignition plugs and catalytic inserts. In this configuration the engine compression ratio decreases to ε=16. Thus, the engine with a catalytic insert in prechamber, can operate in a stable way within the range of lean mixture, i.e. λ up to 1.55.
Comparison of the load characteristics, for a constant speed n = 3000 r.p.m., shows that for an engine with a catalytic insert the specific fuel consumption has undergone a distinct decrease (about 15%) for operation within the range of partial load torque (50 to 75% full load). The concentration of unburned hydrocarbons is reduced by 30 to 50%.Considerable decreases in misfires were observed. The concentration of NOx was relatively low - particularly for higher air excess coefficients.
Recommended Content
Authors
Topic
Citation
Jarosiński, J., Lapucha, R., Mazurkiewicz, J., and Wójcicki, S., "Investigation of a Lean-Burn Piston Engine with Catalytic Prechamber," SAE Technical Paper 960083, 1996, https://doi.org/10.4271/960083.Also In
References
- Ricardo and Company Engineers (1927) LTD “ A Study of Stratified Charge for Light Duty Power Plants” 1975
- Oppenheim, A.K. “Pulsed Jet Combustion - Its Past, Present and Future” Archivurn Combustionis 11 3 18 1991
- Houdry, E. March 1954
- Pfefferle, W. “Catalytic Engine Apparutus” December 1975
- Haskell, W. Legate, C. “Exhaust Hydrocarbon Emissions from Gasoline Engines-Surface Phenomena” SAE paper 720255 1975
- Rychter, T. Saragih, R. Lezanski, T. Wójcicki, S. “Catalytic Activation of a Charge in a Prechamber of a SI Lean-Burn Engine” Eighteen Symposium (International) on Combustion 1815 1824 1981
- Beyerlein, S.W. Wójcicki, S. “A Lean-Burn Catalytic Engine” SAE Technical Paper Series, No 880574 1988
- Jarosiński, J. Lapucha, R. Mazurkiewicz, J. Szrajer, M. Wójcicki, S. “Diesel Engine Modified to the Otto Cycle” Journal of Polish CIMAC 1 331 339 1994
- Jarosiński, J. Lapucha, R. Mazurkiewicz, J. “Catalytic Assistance of Ignition and Combustion in Internal Combustion Engine” 3rd Asia-Pacific International Symposium on Combustion and Energy Utilization 1995
- Murray, R. “Performance and Emission Characteristics of a Semi-Adiabatic Engine” ASME Paper 80-GDP-44 1980
- Siegla, D. Plee, S. “Heterogeneous Catalysis in the Diesel Combustion Chamber, Combustion Science and Technology” 27 102 107 1982
- Haslett, R. June 1978
- Thring, R. “The Catalytic Engine-Platinum Improves Economy and Reduces Pollutants from a Range of Fuels” Platinum Metals Review 27 4 126 1980