dumbdunce wrote: For a system in such wide use there must surely be some published research with some numbers attached.
Hmm, looks like there are a few relevant papers:
Effect of engine parameters and type of gaseous fuel on the performance of dual-fuel gas diesel engines-A critical review
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Author(s): Sahoo BB (Sahoo, B. B.)2, Sahoo N (Sahoo, N.)1, Saha UK (Saha, U. K.)1
Source: RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REVIEWS Volume: 13 Issue: 6-7 Pages: 1151-1184 Published: AUG-SEP 2009
Times Cited: 0 References: 45 Citation MapCitation Map
Abstract: Petroleum resources are finite and, therefore, search for their alternative non-petroleum fuels for internal combustion engines is continuing all over the world. Moreover gases emitted by petroleum fuel driven vehicles have an adverse effect on the environment and human health. There is universal acceptance of the need to reduce such emissions. Towards this, scientists have proposed various solutions for diesel engines, one of which is the use of gaseous fuels as a supplement for liquid diesel fuel. These engines, which use conventional diesel fuel and gaseous fuel, are referred to as 'dual-fuel engines'. Natural gas and bio-derived gas appear more attractive alternative fuels for dual-fuel engines in view of their friendly environmental nature. In the gas-fumigated dual-fuel engine, the primary fuel is mixed outside the cylinder before it is inducted into the cylinder. A pilot quantity of liquid fuel is injected towards the end of the compression stroke to initiate combustion. When considering a gaseous fuel for use in existing diesel engines, a number of issues which include, the effects of engine operating and design parameters, and type of gaseous fuel, on the performance of the dual-fuel engines, are important. This paper reviews the research on above issues carried out by various scientists in different diesel engines. This paper touches upon performance, combustion and emission characteristics of dual-fuel engines which use natural gas, biogas, producer gas, methane, liquefied petroleum gas, propane, etc. as gaseous fuel. It reveals that 'dual-fuel concept' is a promising technique for controlling both NO, and soot emissions even on existing diesel engine. But, HC, CO emissions and 'bsfc' are higher for part load gas diesel engine operations. Thermal efficiency of dual-fuel engines improve either with increased engine speed, or with advanced injection timings, or with increased amount of pilot fuel. The ignition characteristics of the gaseous fuels need more research for a long-term use in a dual-fuel engine. It is found that, the selection of engine operating and design parameters play a vital role in minimizing the performance divergences between an existing diesel engine and a 'gas diesel engine'. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Document Type: Review
Language: English
Author Keywords: Combustion; Carbon dioxide; Dual-fuel; Efficiency; Emissions; Gaseous fuel
KeyWords Plus: NATURAL-GAS; EMISSION CHARACTERISTICS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES; PRODUCER GAS; PILOT FUEL; LIMITS
Reprint Address: Saha, UK (reprint author), Indian Inst Technol, Dept Mech Engn, Gauhati 781039, India
Addresses:
1. Indian Inst Technol, Dept Mech Engn, Gauhati 781039, India
2. Indian Inst Technol, Ctr Energy, Gauhati 781039, India
Effect of variation in LPG composition on emissions and performance in a dual fuel diesel engine
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Author(s): Saleh HE (Saleh, H. E.)
Source: FUEL Volume: 87 Issue: 13-14 Pages: 3031-3039 Published: OCT 2008
Times Cited: 0 References: 26 Citation MapCitation Map
Abstract: This paper investigates the effect of variation in LPG composition on emissions and performance characteristics in a dual fuel engine run on diesel fuel and five gaseous fuel of LPG with different composition. To quantify the best LPG composition for dual fuel operation especially in order to improve the exhaust emissions quality while maintaining high thermal efficiency comparable to a conventional diesel engine, a two-cylinder, naturally aspirated, four-stroke, DI diesel engine converted to run as pilot-injected dual fuel engine. The tests and data collection were performed under various conditions of load at constant engine speed. From the results, it is observed that the exhaust emissions and fuel conversion efficiency of the dual fuel engine are found to be affected when different LPG composition is used as higher butane content lead to lower NO, levels while higher propane content reduces CO levels. Fuel #3 (70% propane, 30% butane) with mass fraction 40% substitution of the diesel fuel was the best LPG composition in the dual fuel operation except that at part loads. Also, tests were made for fuel #3-diesel blend in the dual fuel operation at part loads to improve the engine performances and exhaust emissions by using the Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) method. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Document Type: Article
Language: English
Author Keywords: dual fuel engine; LPG; emissions; performance; exhaust gas recirculation
KeyWords Plus: NATURAL-GAS; COMBUSTION
Reprint Address: Saleh, HE (reprint author), Helwan Univ, Fac Engn, Dept Power Mech Engn, POB 11718, Cairo, Egypt
Addresses:
1. Helwan Univ, Fac Engn, Dept Power Mech Engn, Cairo, Egypt
Combustion and emission characteristics of a diesel engine fuelled with diesel-propane blends
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Author(s): Ma ZH (Ma, Zhihao)1, Huang ZH (Huang, Zuohua)1, Chongxiao LX (Li, Chongxiao)1, Wang XB (Wang, Xinbin)1, Miao HY (Miao, Haiyan)1
Source: FUEL Volume: 87 Issue: 8-9 Pages: 1711-1717 Published: JUL 2008
Times Cited: 1 References: 14 Citation MapCitation Map
Abstract: In this paper, the combustion and emission characteristics of a direct injection diesel engine operating on diesel-propane blends were investigated. The results showed that under the same operating condition, the effective thermal efficiency increased with the increase of propane proportion in the blends. Ignition delay and combustion durations of diesel-propane blends were decreased with the increase of propane proportion in the blends. Maximum cylinder pressure, maximum rate of pressure rise, maximum rate of heat release and maximum mean combustion temperature of the diesel-propane blends increased with the increase of propane proportion in the blends. Simultaneous reduction in exhaust CO, HC and smoke emissions could be realized when operating on the diesel-propane blends. Exhaust NO, emission gave an increasing trend when operating on the diesel-propane blends. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Document Type: Article
Language: English
Author Keywords: diesel; propane; combustion; emissions; engine
KeyWords Plus: FLASH ATOMIZATION; GAS
Reprint Address: Huang, ZH (reprint author), Xian Jiaotong Univ, Sch Energy & Power Engn, State Key Lab Multiphase Flow Power Engn, Xian 710049, Peoples R China
Addresses:
1. Xian Jiaotong Univ, Sch Energy & Power Engn, State Key Lab Multiphase Flow Power Engn, Xian 710049, Peoples R China
An experimental study of the dual-fuel performance of a small compression ignition diesel engine operating with three gaseous fuels
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Author(s): Stewart J (Stewart, J.), Clarke A (Clarke, A.), Chen R (Chen, R.)
Source: PROCEEDINGS OF THE INSTITUTION OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS PART D-JOURNAL OF AUTOMOBILE ENGINEERING Volume: 221 Issue: D8 Pages: 943-956 Published: AUG 2007
Times Cited: 0 References: 27 Citation MapCitation Map
Abstract: A dual-fuel engine is a compression ignition (CI) engine where the primary gaseous fuel source is premixed with air as it enters the combustion chamber. This homogenous mixture is ignited by a small quantity of diesel, the 'pilot', that is injected towards the end of the compression stroke. In the present study, a direct-injection CI engine, was fuelled with three different gaseous fuels: methane, propane, and butane. The engine performance at various gaseous concentrations was recorded at 1500 r/min and quarter, half, and three-quarters relative to full a load of 18.7 kW In order to investigate the combustion performance, a novel three-zone heat release rate analysis was applied to the data. The resulting heat release rate data are used to aid understanding of the performance characteristics of the engine in dual-fuel mode.
Data are presented for the heat release rates, effects of engine load and speed, brake specific energy consumption of the engine, and combustion phasing of the three different primary gaseous fuels.
Methane permitted the maximum energy substitution, relative to diesel, and yielded the most significant reductions in CO2. However, propane also had significant reductions in CO2 but had an increased diffusional. combustion stage which may lend itself to the modern high-speed direct-injection engine.
Document Type: Article
Language: English
Author Keywords: dual-fuel; alternative gaseous fuels; three-zone heat release analysis; combustion phasing; carbon dioxide (CO2) reductions
KeyWords Plus: GAS; COMBUSTION
Reprint Address: Clarke, A (reprint author), Univ Loughborough, Wolfson Sch Med & Mfg Engn, Loughborough LE11 3TU, Leics England
Addresses:
1. Univ Loughborough, Wolfson Sch Med & Mfg Engn, Loughborough LE11 3TU, Leics England
2. Univ Loughborough, Dept Aeronaut & Automot Engn, Loughborough, Leics England
Effects of fuel injection timing on combustion and emission characteristics of a diesel engine fueled with diesel-propane blends
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Author(s): Ma ZH (Ma, Zhihao), Huang ZH (Huang, Zuohua), Li CX (Li, Chongxiao), Wang XB (Wang, Xinbin), Miao HY (Miao, Haiyan)
Source: ENERGY & FUELS Volume: 21 Issue: 3 Pages: 1504-1510 Published: MAY-JUN 2007
Times Cited: 1 References: 12 Citation MapCitation Map
Abstract: In this paper, the effects of fuel injection timing on fuel consumption, combustion, and emission characteristics fueled with diesel and diesel-propane blends in a single-cylinder diesel engine were investigated. The results showed that the effects of fuel injection timing on the performance of the engine exhibited the similar trends for both the diesel fuel and the diesel-propane blends. At the same engine speed and brake mean effective pressure, the specific fuel consumption decreases when operating on the diesel-propane blends comparing with that on the diesel fuel. The peak cylinder pressure, the maximum heat release rate, the proportion of the premixed heat release, the maximum cylinder mean gas temperature, the duration of cylinder mean gas temperature over 1500 K, and NOx emission decrease while retarding the fuel injection timing. The total combustion duration, the emissions of CO, HC, and smoke increase while retarding the fuel injection timing. For the same engine speed, the engine load and the fuel injection timing, the cylinder peak pressure, the maximum heat release rate, the proportion of the premixed heat release, the maximum cylinder mean gas temperature, and NOx emission increase while increasing the propane proportion in the fuel blends. The total combustion duration, the CO, HC, and smoke concentrations decrease while increasing the propane proportion in the fuel blends.
Document Type: Article
Language: English
Reprint Address: Huang, ZH (reprint author), Xian Jiaotong Univ, State Key Lab Multiphase Flow Power Engn, Xian 710049, Peoples R China
Addresses:
1. Xian Jiaotong Univ, State Key Lab Multiphase Flow Power Engn, Xian 710049, Peoples R China
2. Henan Univ Sci & Technol, Coll Vehicle & Mot Power Engn, Luoyang 471003, Peoples R China
A study on the characteristics of combustion with butane and propane in a retrofitted diesel engine
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Author(s): Choi GH, Bae SC, Bin Han S, Chung YJ
Source: PROCEEDINGS OF THE INSTITUTION OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS PART D-JOURNAL OF AUTOMOBILE ENGINEERING Volume: 218 Issue: D8 Pages: 915-920 Published: AUG 2004
Times Cited: 1 References: 17 Citation MapCitation Map
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics of combustion and exhaust-gas temperature of a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) engine when using butane and propane as fuel. A conventional diesel engine was modified into a LPG engine that utilized an LPG fuel system instead of a diesel fuel injection pump. The study was performed with different compositions of butane and propane, such as 100 per cent butane, 100 per cent propane, 50 per cent butane-50 per cent propane, 70 per cent butane-30 per cent propane, and 30 per cent butane-70 per cent propane. The major conclusions of this work are as follows: MBT spark ignition timing was similar with different butane/propane fuel blends, except at the 100 per cent butane, 1200 r/min condition; engine torque and power were not influenced by varying butane/propane fuel blends; and exhaust gas temperature was increased at higher engine speeds, and it was decreased by a maximum of 15degreesC with different butane/propane fuel blends.
Document Type: Article
Language: English
Author Keywords: butane; compression ratio; engine speed; exhaust-gas temperature; liquefied petroleum gas; propane; retrofitted engine
Reprint Address: Choi, GH (reprint author), Keimyung Univ, Dept Mech & Automot Engn, 1000 Shindang Dong, Taegu 704701, South Korea
Addresses:
1. Keimyung Univ, Dept Mech & Automot Engn, Taegu 704701, South Korea
2. Induk Inst Technol, Seoul, South Korea
3. Daegu Mirae Coll, Taegu, South Korea
Exhaust emissions from an indirect injection dual-fuel engine
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Author(s): Abd Alla GH, Badr OA, Soliman HA, Abd Rabbo MF
Source: PROCEEDINGS OF THE INSTITUTION OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS PART D-JOURNAL OF AUTOMOBILE ENGINEERING Volume: 214 Issue: D3 Pages: 333-340 Published: 2000
Times Cited: 0 References: 14 Citation MapCitation Map
Abstract: Diesel engines operating on gaseous fuels are commonly known as dual-fuel engines. In the present work, a single-cylinder, compression ignition, indirect injection research (Ricardo E6) engine has been installed at United Arab Emirates University for investigation of the exhaust emisssions when the engine is operating as a dual-fuel engine. The influence of changes in major operating and design parameters, such as the concentration of gaseous fuel in the cylinder charge, pilot fuel quantity, injection timing and intake temperature, on the production of exhaust emissions was investigated. Diesel fuel was used as the pilot fuel, while methane or propane was used as the main fuel which was inducted in the intake manifold and mixed with the intake air. The experimental investigations showed that the poor emissions at light loads can be improved significantly by increasing the concentration of gaseous fuel (total equivalence ratio), employing a large pilot fuel quantity, advancing the injection timing of the pilot fuel and increasing the intake temperature. It is demonstrated that, in general, any measure that tends to increase the size of the combustion regions within the overly lean cylinder charge will reduce markedly the concentrations of unburned hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide in the exhaust gases.
Document Type: Article
Language: English
Author Keywords: exhaust emissions; dual-fuel engine; pilot fuel; gaseous fuel; injection timing; intake temperature; combustion characteristics; NOx emissions
Reprint Address: Abd Alla, GH (reprint author), Al Ain Tech Sch, POB 17835, Al Ain, U Arab Emirates
Addresses:
1. Zagazig Univ, Shoubra Fac Engn, Dept Mech Engn, Cairo, Egypt
AUTOIGNITION OF LOW-HEATING VALUE GASES IN A DIRECT-INJECTED DIESEL-ENGINE
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Author(s): ROMERO CE, MORRIS G, MCMILLIAN MH
Source: COMBUSTION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Volume: 96 Issue: 4-6 Pages: 369-385 Published: 1994
Times Cited: 2 References: 22 Citation MapCitation Map
Abstract: The autoignition of gaseous mixtures representative of coal derived low-heating value fuels in a direct-injected diesel engine was theoretically investigated over a pressure and temperature ranges of IO to 50 atm and 800 to 1000 K respectively. A computer model was validated with experimental data from an engine operated on direct injected synthetic coal gas. The computed results demonstrated the importance of the characteristic time associated with the chemical kinetics when compared to the fluid mixing. High gas temperatures resulting from high compression ratios, high boost, high inlet air temperatures or other ignition aids are needed to ignite these gases in a compression-ignition engine in a timely manner. The predicted sensitivity of the autoignition delay time to changes in the engine operating conditions was significant for temperature but almost negligible for pressures up to and slightly in excess of 30 atm.
Document Type: Article
Language: English
Author Keywords: LOW-BTU-GAS; DIESEL ENGINE; KINETICS MODELING
KeyWords Plus: OXIDATION; PROPENE; PROPANE; JET
Reprint Address: ROMERO, CE (reprint author), W VIRGINIA UNIV, DEPT MECH ENGN, MORGANTOWN, WV 26505 USA
Addresses:
1. US DOE, MORGANTOWN ENERGY TECHNOL CTR, MORGANTOWN, WV 26507 USA
Three-Dimensional Computational Fluid Simulation of Diesel and Dual Fuel Engine Combustion
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Author(s): Liu CK (Liu, Chengke)1, Karim GA (Karim, G. A.)1
Source: JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING FOR GAS TURBINES AND POWER-TRANSACTIONS OF THE ASME Volume: 131 Issue: 1 Article Number: 012804 Published: JAN 2009
Times Cited: 0 References: 14 Citation MapCitation Map
Abstract: A 3D computational fluid dynamics model with a reduced detailed chemical kinetics of the combustion of diesel and methane fuels is developed while considering turbulence during combustion to simulate the mixture flow, formation, and combustion processes within diesel and diesel/methane dual fuel engines having swirl chambers. The combustion characteristics of the pilot injection into a small prechamber are also investigated. Modeled results were validated by a group of corresponding experimental data. The spatial and temporal distributions of the mixture temperature, pressure, and velocity under conditions with and without liquid fuel injection and combustion are compared. The effects of engine speed, injection timing, and the addition of carbon dioxide oil the combustion process of dual fuel engines are investigated. It is found that in the absence of any fuel injection and combustion, the swirl center is initially formed at the bottom-left of the swirl chamber, and then moved up with continued compression in the top-right direction toward the highest point. The swirling motion within the swirl and main combustion chambers promotes the evaporation of the liquid pilot and the combustion processes of diesel and dual fuel engines. It was observed that all earlier autoignition call be obtained through injecting the pilot fuel into the small prechamber compared with the corresponding swirl chamber operation. It is to be shown that reduced engine emissions and improved thermal efficiency can be achieved by a two-stage homogenous charge compression ignition combustion. [DOI: 10.1115/1.2981175]
Document Type: Article
Language: English
Author Keywords: dual fuel engine; swirl chamber; small prechamber; autoignition
Reprint Address: Liu, CK (reprint author), Univ Calgary, Dept Mech & Mfg Engn, 2500 Univ Dr, NW Calgary, AB T2N 1N4 Canada
Addresses:
1. Univ Calgary, Dept Mech & Mfg Engn, NW Calgary, AB T2N 1N4 Canada