Numerical simulations of a prechamber autoignition engine operating on natural gas
Journal article, 2011

At our laboratory extensive research has been conducted on the conversion of conventional Diesel cogeneration engines to operation on natural gas and biogas. In the framework of this research, a numerical simulation of a prechamber autoignition gas engine has been performed based on an experimental test case. With a simplified finiterate/ eddy-dissipation model for the combustion of natural gas, it was possible to properly reproduce the experiment considering the combustion duration, ignition timing and overall energy balance. A modification of the original cylindrical-conical prechamber geometry to a simpler cylindrical one was tested with the simulation model. The influence of burnt gases inside the prechamber was assessed simulating the mixture formation inside the prechamber. The simulations showed little effect of taking into account the non-homogeneities in the gas phase on the combustion duration. The new cylindrical geometry envisaged did not show any improvement in the combustion homogeneity inside the prechamber and its volume (limited by the real engine geometry) is in fact not sufficient to properly ignite the main chamber according to the simulations. The model can be used to further guide design modifications of the prechamber engine to improve performance.

Autoignition

Cogeneration

Numerical simulation

Prechamber

Author

Stefan Heyne

Industrial Energy Systems and Technologies

G. Millot

ALTRAN SUD-OUEST - Business Unit Flight Physics and Energetics

D. Favrat

Inst. of Environmental Engineering

International Journal of Applied Thermodynamics

1301-9724 (ISSN)

Vol. 14 2 43-50

Subject Categories

Energy Engineering

DOI

10.5541/ijot.166

More information

Created

10/7/2017