Effects of Fuel/Air Mixture Preparation on Fuel Nitrogen Conversion in a Spark ignition Engine

A study has been completed in which a single-cylinder engine was operated on iso-octane and iso-octane doped with a nitrogen compound (pyridine). Tests were conducted to investigate the effects of fuel-air mixing and spark advance on the conversion of the fuel-bound nitrogen to nitric oxide. The results of the present study are compared with those from previous studies and it is concluded that both fuel-air mixing and spark advance affect the amount of fuel-bound nitrogen that is converted to nitric oxide. The results of the present study also can be used to explain the discrepancies that had existed among three previous studies dealing with fuel nitrogen conversion in spark ignition engines.