DI-CNG injector nozzle design influence on SI engine standard emissions and particulates at different injection timings
Journal article, 2022

Compressed natural gas direct injection (DI-CNG) systems in spark ignition (SI) internal combustion engines have shown that it can give several benefits compared to CNG port fuel injection systems. However, the DI-CNG injector nozzle head design and gas jet formation may greatly influence engine exhaust gas emissions and performance. Present experimental study investigated the influence of 7 different nozzle head designs of sprayguided DI-CNG injectors on the combustion process, engine performance, standard emissions, and particulate number (PN) when methane fuel was injected at different injection timings (SOI) and injection pressures (18 bar and 50 bar). The nozzle heads had two main design patterns – heads with small multi holes/orifices and heads with larger crevices (swirl or umbrella spray pattern). Naturally aspirated SI engine tests were conducted at part load (6 bar IMEP) and wide-open throttle (WOT) at 2000 rpm engine speed. The results revealed that the difference between the nozzle heads was small when the fuel was injected at an early stage of the intake stroke (310–350 CAD bTDC) either at part load or high load. However, for late injection timing (130–190 CAD bTDC), the design of the DI-CNG injector nozzle head had a large impact on the combustion stability, standard emissions formation and particulates. Multi-hole nozzle heads showed improved CO2, CO, THC, total PN, and slightly higher NOx emissions compared to nozzle heads with larger crevices. For some of the nozzles, the SOI could be retarded more than for other injector head designs at higher injection pressure whilst still ensuring an acceptable engine performance in terms of combustion stability, power output and emissions formation. Overall, 50-bar injection pressure and a late injection timing under WOT conditions achieved higher engine load levels with all injector nozzle types. Images acquired using an optical endoscope technique with a high-speed video camera showed that a yellow flame was present for all nozzle types at a low injection pressure and late SOI. Increasing the injection pressure reduced the injection duration, improved air/fuel mixing which resulted in the reduced byellow flame formation and lower PN for most of the nozzle heads.

Spark ignition engine

Nozzle head design

Standard emissions and particulates

CNG direct injection

Biogas

Author

Mindaugas Melaika

Chalmers, Mechanics and Maritime Sciences (M2), Combustion and Propulsion Systems

Gilles Herbillon

GDTech Engineering

Petter Dahlander

Chalmers, Mechanics and Maritime Sciences (M2), Combustion and Propulsion Systems

Fuel

0016-2361 (ISSN)

Vol. 317 123386

48V Mild Hybrid with Direct Injection Biogas Engine

Swedish Energy Agency (P44829-1), 2017-10-02 -- 2021-09-30.

Subject Categories

Other Mechanical Engineering

Energy Engineering

Vehicle Engineering

Energy Systems

Driving Forces

Sustainable development

Areas of Advance

Transport

Energy

DOI

10.1016/j.fuel.2022.123386

More information

Latest update

5/31/2022