Lean Burn Natural Gas Spark Ignition Engine - An Overview

In recent years, increased attention has been focused on the effect on the environment of Internal Combustion Engines particularly concerning emissions. Natural gas (NG) is an effective alternative to gasoline and diesel fuel in many internal combustion engine applications. Natural gas has a high research octane number (RON>130), which allows combustion at higher compression ratios without knocking. One of major benefits of using Natural gas, as an engine fuel is reduced emissions. Lean burn natural gas fuelled spark ignition engines are particularly attractive regarding environmental performance. Another benefit of lean operation is increased thermal efficiency due to an increase in the ratio of specific heats for lean mixtures. This paper gives an overview of performance and emissions characteristics, effect of combustion chamber geometries, effect of fuel composition, combustion modeling, burning rate models, prechamber and aftertreatment of a spark ignition lean burn natural gas engine.