The Effect of High Carbon Dioxide Content on the Performance and Emission Characteristics of a Direct Injection (DI) Compressed Natural Gas Engine

Abstract:

This paper investigates the potential of utilizing the undeveloped natural gas fields in Malaysia with high carbon dioxide (CO₂) content ranging from 28 to 87%. For this experiment, various CO₂ proportions by volume were added to pure natural gas as a way of simulating raw natural gas compositions in these fields. The experimental tests were carried out using a 4-stroke single cylinder spark ignition (SI) direct injection (DI) compressed natural gas (CNG) engine. The tests were carried out at 180°CA BTDC injection timing and 3000 rpm, to establish the effects on the engine performance. The findings revealed that the brake torque decreased by 9% with 20% CO₂ proportion in the mixture due to the decrease in the heating value of the mixture. At the same proportion of CO₂, the brake specific fuel consumption decreased by about 8.5% and the brake thermal efficiency increased by 9.2%. There was a reduction in the unburnt hydrocarbons (THC) and carbon monoxide (CO) emissions by 15% and 89% respectively, but the NOx emissions increased by 78%. The utilization of natural gas with 20% CO₂ content as fuel in DI-CNG engine was found to be viable with insignificant drop in engine performance and with reductions in exhaust emissions.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volume 663)
• Pages: 64-70
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.663.64
• Online since: October 2014
• Authors: Wasiu B. Ayandotun*, A. Rashid A. Aziz, Morgan R. Heikal
• Keywords: CO₂, Direct-Injection (DI), Emission, Engine Performance, Natural Gas

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