Complementing syngas with natural gas in spark ignition engines for power production : effects on emissions and combustion

Caligiuri, Carlo (author), Žvar Baškovič, Urban (author), Renzi, Massimiliano (author), Seljak, Tine (author), Rodman Oprešnik, Samuel (author), Baratieri, Marco (author), Katrašnik, Tomaž (author)

Power generation units based on the bio-syngas system face two main challenges due to (i) the possible temporary shortage of primary sources and (ii) the engine power derating associated with the use of low-energy density fuels in combustion engines. In both cases, an external input fuel is provided. Hence, complementing syngas with traditional fuels, like natural gas, becomes a necessity. In this work, an experimental methodology is proposed, aiming at the quantification of the impact of the use of both natural gas and syngas in spark ignition (SI) engines on performance and emissions. The main research questions focus on investigating brake thermal efficiency (BTE), power derating, and pollutant emission (NO$_x$, CO, THC, CO$_2$) formation, offering quantitative findings that present the basis for engine optimization procedures. Experimental measurements were performed on a Toyota 4Y-E engine (a 4-cylinders, 4-stroke spark ignition engine) at partial load (10 kW) under different syngas energy shares (SES) and at four different spark ignition timings (10°, 25°, 35° and 45° BTDC). Results reveal that the impact of the different fuel mixtures on BTE is negligible if compared to the influence of spark advance variation on BTE. On the other hand, power derating has proven to be a limiting factor and becomes more prominent with increasing SES. An increasing SES also resulted in an increase of CO and CO$_2$ emissions, while NO$_x$ and THC emissions decreased with increasing SES.

• Language: English
• Keywords: spark ignition engines, renewable fuels, combustion, syngas, natural gas
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FS - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2021
• Number of pages: 18 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 14, iss. 12, art. 3688
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-127977
• UDC: 621.43:662.767
• ISSN on article: 1996-1073
• DOI: 10.3390/en14123688
• COBISS.SI-ID: 68666115
• Publication date in RUL: 30.06.2021

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Energies
• Shortened title: Energies
• Publisher: Molecular Diversity Preservation International
• ISSN: 1996-1073
• COBISS.SI-ID: 518046745

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.
• Licensing start date: 21.06.2021

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: motorji s prisilnim vžigom, obnovljiva goriva, zgorevanje, sintezni plin, zemeljski plin