Paper Title

Laser ignition and flame kernel characterization of HCNG in a constant volume combustion chamber

Authors

Profile picture of Avinash Kumar Agarwal
Avinash Kumar Agarwal
Profile picture of Rajesh Kumar Prasad
Rajesh Kumar Prasad

Keywords

  • Laser Ignition
  • Gaseous Fuels
  • Lean-Burn Combustion
  • Hydrogen Enriched Natural Gas (HCNG)
  • Spark Ignition (SI) Engines
  • Future Emission Legislations
  • Flame Kernel Evolution
  • Combustion Chamber
  • Constant-Volume Combustion Chamber (CVCC)
  • Q-Switched Nd:YAG Laser
  • Ambient Pressure
  • Flame Propagation
  • Lambda (λ)
  • Hydrogen Fraction
  • CCD Camera
  • Shadowgraphy Technique
  • Flame Speed
  • Combustion Duration
  • Combustion Performance
  • In-Cylinder Pressure
  • Emission Reduction
  • Engine Efficiency
  • HCNG Composition

Journal

Fuel External link

Research Impact Tools

DOI

DOI Icon 10.1016/j.fuel.2016.11.003

Publication Info

Volume: 190 | Pages: 318-327

Published On

February, 2017

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Abstract

Laser ignition of gaseous fuels leads to improved lean-burn combustion, which is a key technology in reducing engine out emissions for meeting stringent future emission legislations. Hydrogen enriched natural gas (HCNG) promotes lean-burn combustion due to higher flammability limits of constituent hydrogen. HCNG is a promising gaseous fuel for spark ignition (SI) engines prior to development and deployment of dedicated hydrogen fueled engines. In this study, laser ignition of HCNG was compared with baseline natural gas for different lambdas (λ) ranging from 1.1, 1.3, to 1.5 using a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser in a constant-volume combustion chamber (CVCC). Experiments were conducted at different ambient pressures, i.e., initial chamber filling pressures of 5 bar and 10 bar. These pressures simulated the in-cylinder pressures identical to that at the time of spark ignition in an engine cycle. Flame kernel evolution in HCNG blends of different compositions (10%, 20%, and 30% v/v hydrogen) were compared with baseline natural gas for a specified Lambda (λ). A high speed CCD camera was used for triggering the laser and thus the flame kernel evolution in the CVCC, which was recorded using shadowgraphy technique. Images captured were further analyzed to obtain temporal propagation of flames in different directions. Flame kernel propagated faster in ambient pressure of 5 bar compared to 10 bar. Both, flame speed and peak CVCC pressure increased, and combustion duration shortened with increasing hydrogen fraction in HCNG.

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