An Analytical Examination of the Preignition Processes within Homogeneous Mixtures of a Gaseous Fuel and Air in a Motored Engine

Examination is made of the main features of the physical and chemical preignition processes within homogeneous mixtures of air and gaseous fuels, such as propane, methane and hydrogen in a motored engine, while employing detailed chemical kinetics in a one zone analytical model. The changes in the compression temperature and pressure due to the admission of gaseous fuels, energy release during the preingition reactions and the contributions of heat transfer and residual gases to the preignition reaction activity were followed over a number of consecutive cycles until the occurrence of autoignition.

Some of the observed differences in engine behaviour when operating on methane, propane and hydrogen were discussed with particular reference to the observed trends in dual fuel engine operation. Calculated results showed good agreement with some corresponding experimental trends.