An Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Spark Ignition Engine Operation on H2, CO, CH4, and Their Mixtures

Abstract

The knock and combustion characteristics of CO, H2, CH4, and their mixtures were determined experimentally in a variable compression ratio spark ignition (SI) cooperative fuel research (CFR) engine. The significant effects of gaseous fuel mixtures containing H2 in enhancing the combustion and oxidation process of CH4 were examined. The unique combustion characteristics of CO in dry air and its distinct performance in mixtures with H-containing fuels were investigated. The addition of a simulated synthesis gas (2H2+CO) to CH4 was found to enhance the combustion process of the resulting mixture and lowers its knock resistance. The effectiveness of such an addition is slightly weaker than that of a comparable H2 addition but much stronger than that with CO addition only. A predictive model with detailed kinetic chemistry was used successfully to simulate SI engine operation fuelled with CH4, H2, CO, and their mixtures. The predicted engine performance and knock limits of CH4, H2, CO, and their mixtures agree well with experimental data with the exception around pure CO operation in dry air with the presence of small amounts of CH4 or H2. A remedial approach to improve the prediction of the knock limits of fuel mixtures containing mainly CO with a small amount of H-containing fuels such as H2 and CH4 was proposed and discussed.