• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.767-772
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• 2023

In this study, combustion experiments were conducted at various engine speeds under full-load conditions using a single-cylinder diesel engine by blending butanol, pentanol, and octanol with diesel at a volume ratio of 10%. Experimental results revealed that higher alcohol-diesel blends resulted in lower brake torque and brake power than pure diesel due to the lower calorific value and the cooling effect during evaporation. An evident improvement in the brake thermal efficiency of the blended fuels was observed at engine speeds below 2,000 rpm, with the butanol blend exhibiting the highest thermal efficiency overall. Furthermore, the brake-specific fuel consumption of the higher alcohol-diesel blends was lower than that of pure diesel at speeds below 2,200 rpm. When using blended fuels, the exhaust gas temperature decreased under lean mixture conditions due to heat loss to the air and the cooling effect from fuel evaporation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.26-34
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• 2011

The present work addresses structural characteristics of natural gas flames in a lean premixed swirl-stabilized combustor with an attention focused on the effect of the formation of recirculation zones on the combustion instability. It is known that the recirculation zone plays an important role in stabilizing a turbulent, premixed natural gas flames by providing a source of heat or radicals to the incoming premixed fuel and air. To improve our understanding of the role of recirculation zones, the flame structure was investigated for various mixture velocities, equivalence ratios and swirl numbers. The optically accessible combustor allowed for the application of laser diagnostics, and Particle Image Velocimetry(PIV) measurements was used to characterize the flame structure under both cold flow conditions and hot flow conditions. Dynamic pressures were also measured to investigate characteristics of combustion at the same time. The results indicates that the formation of recirculation zone is strongly related to the occurrence of thermo-acoustic instabilities.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
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• 2011.04a
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• pp.445-452
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• 2011

The present work addresses structural characteristics of natural gas flames in a lean premixed swirl-stabilized combustor with an attention focused on the effect of the formation of recirculation zones on the combustion instability. It is known that the recirculation zone plays an important role in stabilizing a turbulent, premixed natural gas flames by providing a source of heat or radicals to the incoming premixed fuel and air. To improve our understanding of the role of recirculation zones, the flame structure was investigated for various mixture velocities, equivalence ratios and swirl numbers. The optically accessible combustor allowed for the application of laser diagnostics, and Particle Image Velocimetry(PIV) measurements was used to characterize the flame structure under both cold flow conditions and hot flow conditions. Dynamic pressures were also measured to investigate characteristics of combustion at the same time. The results indicates that the formation of recirculation zone is strongly related to the occurrence of thermo-acoustic instabilities.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.46-52
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• 2009

Hydrogen can extend the lean misfire limit to a large extent when it is mixed with conventional fuels for an internal combustion engine. This study is about fuel reforming to produce hydrogen enriched gas as a fuel for engine. Especially gasoline, which consists of numerous hydrocarbon fuels, considered as source of reformed gas. Various hydrocarbons, including commercial fuel were reformed and potentialities of reformed gas on vehicles were accessed. The reforming efficiency and hydrogen yield were observed. Maximum hydrogen yield were found with different gas hourly space velocity(GHSV) and O2/C ratio of reforming conditions.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.28 no.10
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• pp.1193-1201
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• 2004

The effect of equivalence ratio and fuel/air mixing quality on the phase-resolved gas temperatures at different phases of the oscillating pressure cycle was experimentally investigated. An atmospheric pressure, optically accessible and laboratory-scale dump combustor operating on methane with heat release rate of 1.59kW was used. Temperature measurements were made using coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS) at several spatial locations fur typical unstable combustion conditions. Analysis was conducted using parameters such as phase-resolved averaged temperature, normalized standard deviation and temperature probability distribution functions (PDFs). Also the probability on the occurrence of high temperature (over 1900K) was investigated to get the information on the perturbation of equivalence ratio and NOx emission characteristics. It was shown that most of temperature histograms exhibit Gaussian profile which has short breadth of temperature fluctuation at equivalence ratio of 0.6, while beta profile was predominant for the cases of other equivalence ratios (${\Phi}$=0.55, 0.50). It was also shown that phase-resolved averaged temperature oscillated in phase with pressure cycle, while normalized standard deviations which represent temporal turbulent intensity of temperature showed nearly constant value around 0.1. The characteristics on the occurrence of high temperature also displayed periodic wave form which was very similar to the pressure signal. And the amplitude of this profile went larger as the fuel/air mixing quality became poorer. These also provided additional information on the perturbation of equivalence ratio at flame as well as NOx emission characteristics.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.21-27
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• 2015

In order to meet the current emission regulations (EURO-6), it is necessary to significantly reduce $CH_4$ and $NO_X$ emissions. This study investigated the effect of a reduction in the valve overlap on the combustion and emission characteristics of a hydrogen-compressed natural gas engine under a part-load operating condition. The combustion and emission characteristics were analyzed for each fuel using the original camshaft and an altered camshaft with reduced valve overlap. The results showed that the thermal efficiency was decreased and the fuel flow was increased when using the altered camshaft. The $CO_2$ and $CH_4$ emissions were increased as a result of the reduced thermal efficiency. Under lean operating conditions, the $NO_X$ emission was decreased compared with one of the conventional camshaft. Thus, under the same fuels and operating conditions, it had a harmful influence on the emission characteristics and thermal efficiency.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.405-412
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• 2012

In the MCFC power generation system, the combustor supplies a high temperature mixture of gases to the cathode and heat to the reformer by using the off-gas from the anode; the off-gas includes high concentrations of $H_2O$ and $CO_2$. Since a combustor needs to be operated in a very lean condition and avoid local heating, a catalytic combustor is usually adopted. Catalytic combustion is also generally accepted as one of the environmentally preferred alternatives for generation of heat and power from fossil fuels because of its complete combustion and low emissions of pollutants such as CO, UHC, and $NO_x$. In this study, experiments were conducted on catalytic combustion behavior in the presence of Pd-based catalysts for the BOP (Balance Of Plant) of 5 kW MCFC (Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell) power generation systems. Extensive investigations were carried out on the catalyst performance with the gaseous $CH_4$ fuel by changing such various parameters as $H_2$ addition, inlet temperature, excess air ratio, space velocity, catalyst type, and start-up schedule of the pilot system adopted in the BOP.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.45-53
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• 2022

In order to improve the emission of diesel engines, natural gas-diesel dual fuel combustion compression ignition engines are in the spotlight. In particular, a reactivity controlled compression ignition (RCCI) combustion strategy is investigated comprehensively due to its possibility to improve both efficiency and emissions. With advanced diesel direct injection timing earlier than TDC, it achieves spontaneous reaction with overall lean mixture from a homogeneous mixture in the entire cylinder area, reducing nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) and improving braking heat efficiency at the same time. However, there is a disadvantage in that the amount of incomplete combustion increases in a low load region with a relatively small amount of fuel-air. To solve this, sensitive control according to the diesel injection timing and fuel ratio is required. In this study, experiments were conducted to improve efficiency and exhaust emissions of the natural gas-diesel dual fuel engine at low load, and evaluate combustion stability according to the diesel injection timing at the operation point for power generation. A 6 L-class commercial diesel engine was used for the experiment which was conducted under a 50% load range (~50 kW) at 1,800 rpm. Two injectors with different spray patterns were applied to the experiment, and the fraction of natural gas and diesel injection timing were selected as main parameters. Based on the experimental results, it was confirmed that the brake thermal efficiency increased by up to 1.3%p in the modified injector with the narrow-angle injection added. In addition, the spray pattern of the modified injector was suitable for premixed combustion, increasing operable range in consideration of combustion instability, torque reduction, and emissions level under Tier-V level (0.4 g/kWh for NOx).

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.1-10
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• 2020

Reactivity controlled compression ignition (RCCI) combustion is one of dual-fuel combustion systems which can be constructed by early diesel injection during the compression stroke to improve premixing between diesel and air. As a result, RCCI combustion promises low nitrogen oxides (NOx) and smoke emissions comparing to those of general dual-fuel combustion. For this combustion system, to meet the intensified emission regulations without emission after-treatment systems, exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) is necessary to reduce combustion temperature with lean premixed mixture condition. However, since EGR is supplied from the front of turbocharger system, intake pressure and the amount of fresh air supplementation are decreased as increasing EGR rate. For this reason, the effect of various EGR rates on the brake power and thermal efficiency of natural gas/diesel RCCI combustion under two different operating conditions in a 6 L compression ignition engine. Varying EGR rate would influence on the combustion characteristic and boosting condition simultaneously. For the 1,200/29 kW and 1,800 rpm/(lower than) 90 kW conditions, NOx and smoke emissions were controlled lower than the emission regulation of 'Tier-4 final' and the maximum in-cylinder pressure was 160 bar for the indurance of engine system. The results showed that under 1,200 rpm/29 kW condition, there were no changes in brake power and thermal efficiency. On the other hand, under 1,800 rpm condition, brake power and thermal efficieny were decreased from 90 to 65 kW and from 37 to 33 % respectively, because of deceasing intake pressure (from 2.3 to 1.8 bar). Therefore, it is better to supply EGR from the rear of compressor, i.e. low pressure EGR (LP-EGR) system, comparing to high pressure EGR (HP-EGR) for the improvement of RCCI power and thermal efficiency.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.103-110
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• 2012

The flow field, fuel-air mixing, and behaviors of turbulent flames have been investigated using the large eddy simulation (LES) numerical technique in a premixed swirl combustor equipped with EV double cone burners. Recirculation zones are generated by the swirl burner, and lean premixed flames are formed within a distance of 0.2 m from the tip of the burner. NOx emission of 0.46 ppm is predicted at 1 atm and an air/fuel ratio of 38.7. However, most of the CO generated in a flame front continues to be oxidized as it moves toward the exit, and CO emission of 5.45 ppm is predicted at the exit. The NOx emission can be reduced by decreasing the pressure and air/fuel ratio. The characteristics of NOx emission have been investigated through RANS simulations for various fuel injection types, and it is found thereby that five-lance-hole injection produces the lowest NOx emission rate.