Abstract
The effects of EGR and premixedness on NO formation have been numerically investigated. The flame structure is classified into three categories; premixed flame($=1)$, rich/lean premixed flame(${\alpha}=0.6$ and 0.8) and diffusion flame(${\alpha}=0$). NO formation/destruction mechanisms are assorted to thermal, reburn and Fenimore mechanisms. The temperature of unburned gas is arranged to 298 and 500 K to have access to the condition in a real internal combustion engine. The results show that all three NO formation/destruction reaction rates in the fuel rich flame zone could be decreased by EGR for rich/lean premixed flames, while those in the fuel lean flame zone are not significantly changed. Near the stagnation plane, however, only the thermal NO reaction rate is decreased. The contribution of reburn and Fenimore mechanisms for the net NO production becomes less significant as the premixedness of a flame increases. The larger amount of NO reduction with EGR is expected under the higher temperature and/or higher fuel/air premixedness conditions due to the increased contribution of the thermal mechanism. The role of Fenimore and reburn mechanisms could be important for rich premixed and diffusion flames; therefore, the effect of EGR on NO reduction could vary with fuel/air premixedness. The premixedness of a partially premixed flame changes the flame structure and could affect the NO production characteristics.
