Laser Based Ignition of Natural Gas-Air Mixtures

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sreenath B. Gupta ◽  
Raj R. Sekar ◽  
Zhiyue Xu ◽  
Keng H. Leong ◽  
Claude B. Reed ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natural Gas ◽  
Focal Length ◽  
Single Point ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Pressure Rise ◽  
Specific Power ◽  
Beam Polarization ◽  
Full Potential ◽  
Natural Gas Engines ◽  
High Specific Power

In current natural gas engines, lean operation to reduce NOx emissions along with the requirement to maintain high specific power results in in-cylinder conditions that demand spark voltages beyond the capabilities of present ignition systems. Unable to overcome such limitations, presently these engines are operated well below their full potential (about 15% less). Additionally, undue maintenance demands are placed for the upkeep of ignition systems. Laser based ignition (LBI) on the other hand, overcomes the above limitations and potentially reduces emissions and increases efficiency. Experimental studies were performed to identify such potential benefits while using lasers to ignite quiescent methane-air mixtures. Quiescent methane-air mixtures at various conditions (φ = 0.6–1.0, fill pressure = 2–20 Bar) were established in a pressure vessel and were ignited using lasers and by conventional ignition systems. Such tests showed lasers to ignite mixtures with initial pressures 30% higher than those limiting ignition by conventional ignition systems. However, extension of the lean ignition limit appeared to be marginal and was defined by φ = 0.675. Also, for single point ignition followed here, the rates of pressure rise and ignition delays were identical and did not depend upon the method of ignition. Other characteristics in terms of (a) effect of focal length, (b) effect of fuel composition, and (c) effect of laser beam polarization are presented. In practice, in-cylinder conditions such as turbulence, velocity and temperature are likely to have an additional bearing on the ignition characteristics. Such effects will be determined through future investigations.

Development of a Natural Gas Combustion System for High Specific Power

MTZ worldwide ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 76 (10) ◽  
pp. 30-35
Author(s):  
Bertold Hüchtebrock ◽  
José Geiger ◽  
Avnish Dhongde ◽  
Harsh Sankhla
Keyword(s):  
Natural Gas ◽  
Specific Power ◽  
Combustion System ◽  
Gas Combustion ◽  
High Specific Power ◽  
Natural Gas Combustion

Jet-Penetration in Prechamber-Ignited Lean Large-Bore Natural Gas Engines

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Kammerstätter ◽  
S. Bauer ◽  
T. Sattelmayer
Keyword(s):  
Natural Gas ◽  
Heat Release ◽  
Reaction Zone ◽  
Pressure Rise ◽  
Chamber Pressure ◽  
Main Chamber ◽  
Penetration Length ◽  
Ignition Probability ◽  
Natural Gas Engines ◽  
Jet Penetration

Combustion in lean large-bore natural gas engines is usually initiated by gas-scavenged prechambers. The hot reacting products of the combustion in the prechamber penetrate the main chamber as reacting jets, providing high ignition energy for the lean main chamber charge. The shape and intensity of the reaction zone in these jets are the key elements for efficient ignition and heat release in the main chamber. The influence of geometrical and operational parameters on the reaction during jet penetration was investigated in detail. As the periodically chargeable high pressure combustion cell used in the study provides full optical access to the entire main chamber the evolution of the spatial distribution of the reaction zones was investigated in terms of OH*-chemiluminescence. As jet penetration is a very fast and highly transient process the emission of OH* was recorded at a frequency of f = 30000 Hz. The macroscopic reaction zone parameters in the jet region (penetration length and angle, reacting area and light emission) reveal the influence of orifice size and prechamber gas injection on the heat release in the shear layer between the jet and the lean charge in the main chamber. In addition, the influence of the development of the reaction in these zones on the ignition probability and the main chamber pressure rise is shown. With an appropriate selection of the combination of the prechamber orifice geometry and the operating parameters significant improvements of ignition probability and heat release in the main chamber were obtained.

scholarly journals Prechamber Equipped Laser Ignition for Improved Performance in Natural Gas Engines

2017 ◽  
Vol 139 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bader Almansour ◽  
Subith Vasu ◽  
Sreenath B. Gupta ◽  
Qing Wang ◽  
Robert Van Leeuwen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natural Gas ◽  
Soot Formation ◽  
Single Point ◽  
Spark Ignition ◽  
Laser Ignition ◽  
Efficiency Gain ◽  
Lean Burn ◽  
Single Cylinder ◽  
Natural Gas Engines ◽  
Improved Performance

Lean-burn operation of stationary natural gas engines offers lower NOx emissions and improved efficiency. A proven pathway to extend lean-burn operation has been to use laser ignition (LI) instead of standard spark ignition (SI). However, under lean conditions, flame speed reduces, thereby offsetting any efficiency gains resulting from the higher ratio of specific heats, γ. The reduced flame speeds, in turn, can be compensated with the use of a prechamber to result in volumetric ignition and thereby lead to faster combustion. In this study, the optimal geometry of PCLI was identified through several tests in a single-cylinder engine as a compromise between autoignition, NOx, and soot formation within the prechamber. Subsequently, tests were conducted in a single-cylinder natural gas engine comparing the performance of three ignition systems: standard electrical spark ignition (SI), single-point laser ignition (LI), and PCLI. Out of the three, the performance of PCLI was far superior compared to the other two. Efficiency gain of 2.1% points could be achieved while complying with EPA regulation (BSNOx < 1.34 kWh) and the industry standard for ignition stability (coefficient of variation of integrated mean effective pressure (COV_IMEP) < 5%). Test results and data analysis are presented identifying the combustion mechanisms leading to the improved performance.

Design and Bench-Top Testing of Multiplexed Fiber Delivered Laser Ignition System for Natural Gas Engines

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sachin Joshi ◽  
Adam Reynolds ◽  
Bryan Willson ◽  
Azer P. Yalin
Keyword(s):  
Natural Gas ◽  
Fiber Optics ◽  
Optical Fibers ◽  
Pressure Rise ◽  
Past Research ◽  
Laser Pulses ◽  
Solid Core ◽  
Cyclic Variability ◽  
Natural Gas Engines ◽  
Silica Fibers

Past research has demonstrated the feasibility of using optical sparks for engine ignition, and has shown potential benefits associated with reduced cyclic variability and increased rate of cylinder pressure rise, thus extending the lean operating limit of natural gas engines. This contribution details the design and bench-top testing of a fiber-optic delivery system for ignition of natural gas engines. The system is designed for use on a Caterpillar G3516C engine and is comprised of a single Nd:YAG laser as the energy source, a multiplexer for switching the beam between cylinders, fiber optics to deliver the laser pulses to individual cylinders, and optical plugs to couple the beam into the cylinders. The optical fibers are a critical component of the system and discussion of use of both solid core silica fibers and cyclic olefin polymer-coated silver hollow fibers is included. The multiplexer design is presented and optical testing of the multiplexed fiber delivery on the bench-top is reported. Design considerations for engine integration are introduced.

Influence of Prechamber-Geometry and Operating-Parameters on Cycle-to-Cycle Variations in Lean Large-Bore Natural Gas Engines

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Kammerstätter ◽  
T. Sattelmayer
Keyword(s):  
Natural Gas ◽  
Light Emission ◽  
Combustion Process ◽  
Pressure Rise ◽  
Operating Parameters ◽  
Main Chamber ◽  
Ignition Probability ◽  
Natural Gas Engines ◽  
University Of Munich ◽  
Large Cylinder

Lean large-bore natural gas engines are usually equipped with gas-scavenged prechambers. After ignition and during combustion in the prechamber hot reacting jets penetrate the main chamber and provide much higher ignition energies than electric spark plugs. Although prechambers stabilize combustion, limitations of the concept are observed at very lean main chamber mixtures and large cylinder diameters, which appear as cycle-to-cycle variations of heat release and pressure. At the Thermodynamics Institute of the Technical University of Munich cycle-to-cycle variations are investigated in an unique periodically chargeable high pressure combustion cell with full optical access to the entire main chamber. Recently, the influence of the ignition timing, the amount of scavenge-gas of the prechamber and the cross section of the prechamber exit orifices on cycle-to-cycle variations have been studied. From the pressure traces characteristic parameters of the combustion process like the ignition probability, the ignition delay and the rate of the pressure rise have been derived. By analysing the emission of OH*-chemiluminescence in terms of reacting area and light emission and on the basis of numerical simulations information on the source of cycle-to-cycle variations is obtained. Finally it is shown that cycle-to-cycle variations can be reduced remarkably by appropriate selection and combination of prechamber geometry and operating parameters.

RECLAMATION AND CULVERT CROSSINGS MADE OF CORRUGATED PIPES ON SPAWNING STREAMS

2020 ◽  
pp. 68-77
Author(s):  
O.N. CHERNYKH ◽  
◽  
A.V. RBURLACHENKO
Keyword(s):  
Single Point ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Fish Passage ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Fish Stocks ◽  
Metal Structures ◽  
Natural Reproduction ◽  
Spiral Shape ◽  
Corrugated Metal ◽  
Spawning Streams

Recommendations are presented for solving issues that arise in the design and operation of tubular transport crossings of corrugated metal structures through spawning streams while ensuring the safety and natural reproduction of fish stocks. There are discussed the results of experimental studies of culverts made of metal corrugated pipes with a normal and spiral shape of corrugation the bottom of which is buried and filled with suitable granular material to the level of the natural channel of a small watercourse. It is established that when 10% of the area of the corrugated pipe is occupied by stone filling, its throughput is reduced by about 10-12%. Based on the review of the existing literature and the results of laboratory experiments, data is provided to estimate the values of the roughness coefficients of the composite cross-section of a single-point junction and directions for future research on culvert reclamation are outlined. Studying of the structure of the velocity distribution in culverts can lead to the improved conditions for fish passage without installing special structural elements in the transit path of the fish passage structure.

Effects of Natural Gas Compositions on Engine In-Cylinder Process

2015 ◽  
Vol 1092-1093 ◽  
pp. 498-503
Author(s):  
La Xiang ◽  
Yu Ding
Keyword(s):  
Natural Gas ◽  
Alternative Fuels ◽  
Combustion Process ◽  
Engine Performance ◽  
Maximum Temperature ◽  
Maximum Pressure ◽  
Test Bed ◽  
Promising Alternative ◽  
Natural Gas Engines ◽  
Lower Maximum

Natural gas (NG) is one of the most promising alternative fuels of diesel and petrol because of its economics and environmental protection. Generally the NG engine share the similar structure profile with diesel or petrol engine but the combustion characteristics of NG is varied from the fuels, so the investigation of NG engine combustion process receive more attentions from the researchers. In this paper, a zero-dimensional model on the basis of Vibe function is built in the MATLAB/SIMULINK environment. The model provides the prediction of combustion process in natural gas engines, which has been verified by the experimental data in the NG test bed. Furthermore, the influence of NG composition on engine performance is investigated, in which the in-cylinder maximum pressure and temperature and mean indicated pressure are compared using different type NG. It is shown in the results that NG with higher composition of methane results in lower maximum temperature and mean indicated pressure as well as higher maximum pressure.

Predicting Flameholding for Hydrogen and Natural Gas Flames at Gas Turbine Premixer Conditions

2016 ◽  
Vol 138 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elliot Sullivan-Lewis ◽  
Vincent McDonell
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Natural Gas ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Temperature Variations ◽  
Auto Ignition ◽  
Chamber Temperature ◽  
Transient Events ◽  
Significant Effort

Lean-premixed gas turbines are now common devices for low emissions stationary power generation. By creating a homogeneous mixture of fuel and air upstream of the combustion chamber, temperature variations are reduced within the combustor, which reduces emissions of nitrogen oxides. However, by premixing fuel and air, a potentially flammable mixture is established in a part of the engine not designed to contain a flame. If the flame propagates upstream from the combustor (flashback), significant engine damage can result. While significant effort has been put into developing flashback resistant combustors, these combustors are only capable of preventing flashback during steady operation of the engine. Transient events (e.g., auto-ignition within the premixer and pressure spikes during ignition) can trigger flashback that cannot be prevented with even the best combustor design. In these cases, preventing engine damage requires designing premixers that will not allow a flame to be sustained. Experimental studies were conducted to determine under what conditions premixed flames of hydrogen and natural gas can be anchored in a simulated gas turbine premixer. Tests have been conducted at pressures up to 9 atm, temperatures up to 750 K, and freestream velocities between 20 and 100 m/s. Flames were anchored in the wakes of features typical of premixer passageways, including cylinders, steps, and airfoils. The results of this study have been used to develop an engineering tool that predicts under what conditions a flame will anchor, and can be used for development of flame anchoring resistant gas turbine premixers.

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