The Influence of Natural Gas Composition on Ignition in a Direct Injection Gas Engine Using Hot Surface Assisted Compression Ignition

Variable composition of natural gas depending on the gas source causes variable ignition and combustion properties when used as fuel in internal combustion engines. Ignition and combustion problems lead to reduced efficiency, increased levels of emissions, as well as increased mechanical and thermal loads on engine components. The main objective of this study is to investigate the influence of natural gas composition on ignition properties in a direct injection hot surface assisted compression ignition engine. Previous investigations have shown that ignition of methane require hot surface temperature in the range of 1200-1400 K in order to obtain an ignition delay within 2 milliseconds. Pure methane and several natural gas mixtures have been tested under various conditions in a constant volume combustion bomb and in a test engine. Ignition delay and cycle to cycle variations are used to compare the combustion qualities of the different gas. The test results show that even small fractions of higher alkanes, such as ethane and propane, improve ignition qualities of natural gas significantly.