Low Cost, High Efficiency, Ultra Low Nox Arice Solution Using Hcci Combustion

Abstract

LOW COST, HIGH EFFICIENCY, ULTRA LOW NOX ARICE SOLUTION USING HCCI COMBUSTION " P u b l i c I n t e r e s t E n e r g y R e s e a r c h ( P I E R ) P r o g r a m F I N A L P R O J E C T R E P O R T LOW COST, HIGH EFFICIENCY, ULTRA LOW NOX ARICE SOLUTION USING HCCI COMBUSTIONAPRILContract Number: 500-02-003Prepared for: California Energy CommissionAvtar Bining, Ph.D. Project ManagerMike Gravely Office Manager Energy Systems Research OfficeLaurie ten Hope Deputy Director RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT DIVISION Robert P. Oglesby Executive Director DISCLAIMERThis report was prepared as the result of work sponsored by the California Energy Commission. It does not necessarily represent the views of the Energy Commission, its employees or the State of California. The Energy Commission, the State of California, its employees, contractors and subcontractors make no warrant, express or implied, and assume no legal liability for the information in this report; nor does any party represent that the uses of this information will not infringe upon privately owned rights. This report has not been approved or disapproved by the California Energy Commission nor has the California Energy Commission passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of the information in this report. Legal Notice List of Figures List of Tables AbstractThis report documents the development of a Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition engine for the Advanced Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engine Program of the California Energy Commission. The goal of this research project was to develop and demonstrate a homogeneous charge compression ignition internal combustion engine for stationary power generation applications meeting the advanced reciprocating internal combustion engine program efficiency and emissions goals, primarily the development of a 200 kilowatt engine operating at 45 percent efficiency with 0.015 grams/brake horse power hour nitrogen oxide emissions. While this project did not attain this goal, innovative solutions were developed to many of the technical barriers that prevent homogeneous charge compression ignition from being a practical combustion system for the stationary power generation marketplace. The project focused on converting a Caterpillar 6 cylinder engine model 3406 natural gas generator set to operate in natural gas homogeneous charge compression ignition mode. A key challenge of homogeneous charge compression ignition is control of combustion. A novel system for control of the engine was developed based on thermal management, where recovered heat from the engine exhaust was used to control intake air temperature. Controlling intake air temperature allows control of the timing of the homogeneous charge compression ignition combustion process, and a specially designed dual intake manifold system allowed for control of the engine on a cylinder by cylinder basis. Control of fuel air ratio is another significant technical issue in homogeneous charge compression ignition combustion, and is especially difficult with natural gas fuelled eng...