Natural gas fuels represent the next evolution of low-carbon energy feedstocks powering human activity worldwide. The internal combustion engine, the energy conversion device widely used by society for more than one century, is capable of utilizing advanced combustion strategies in pursuit of ultra-high efficiency and ultra-low emissions. Yet many emerging advanced combustion strategies depend upon traditional petroleum-based fuels for their operation. In this research the use of natural gas, namely methane, is applied to both conventional and advanced dual-fuel combustion strategies. In the first part of this work both computational and experimental studies are undertaken to examine the viability of utilizing methane as the premixed low reactivity fuel in reactivity controlled compression ignition, a leading advanced dual-fuel combustion strategy. As a result, methane is shown to be capable of significantly extending the load limits for dual-fuel reactivity controlled compression ignition in both light- and heavy-duty engines. In the second part of this work heavy-duty single-cylinder engine experiments are performed to research the performance of both conventional dual-fuel (diesel pilot ignition) and advanced dual-fuel (reactivity controlled compression ignition) combustion strategies using methane as the premixed low reactivity fuel. Both strategies are strongly influenced by equivalence ratio; diesel pilot ignition offers best performance at higher equivalence ratios and higher premixed methane ratios, whereas reactivity controlled compression ignition offers superior performance at lower equivalence ratios and lower premixed methane ratios. In the third part of this work experiments are performed in order to determine the dominant mode of heat release for both dual-fuel combustion strategies. By studying the dual-fuel homogeneous charge compression ignition and single-fuel spark ignition, strategies representative of autoignition and flame propagation, respectively, detailed heat release analyses can be performed in order to determine the dominant mode of heat release. The results indicate, for lean conditions, that diesel pilot ignition is controlled by flame propagation and reactivity controlled compression ignition is controlled by autoignition. The results encourage the use of diesel pilot ignition for low-boost stoichiometric engine applications and the use of reactivity controlled compression ignition for high-boost lean-burn engine applications.

This book covers the various advanced reciprocating combustion engine technologies that utilize natural gas and alternative fuels for transportation and power generation applications. It is divided into three major sections consisting of both fundamental and applied technologies to identify (but not limited to) clean, high-efficiency opportunities with natural gas fueling that have been developed through experimental protocols, numerical and high-performance computational simulations, and zero-dimensional, multizone combustion simulations. Particular emphasis is placed on statutes to monitor fine particulate emissions from tailpipe of engines operating on natural gas and alternative fuels.

It's crucial to use advanced combustion strategies to increase efficiency and decrease engine-out pollutants because of the compelling need to reduce the global carbon footprint. This dissertation proposes dual fuel low-temperature combustion as a viable strategy to decrease engine-out emissions and increase the thermal efficiency of future heavy-duty internal combustion (IC) engines. In dual fuel combustion, a low reactivity fuel (e.g. methane, propane) is ignited by a high reactivity fuel (diesel) in a compression-ignited engine. Generally, the energy fraction of low reactivity fuel is maintained at much higher levels than the energy fraction of the high reactivity fuel. For a properly calibrated engine, combustion occurs at lean and low-temperature conditions (LTC). This decreases the chances of the formation of soot and oxides of nitrogen within the engine. However, at low load conditions, this type of combustion results in high hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions. The first part of this research experimentally examines the effect of methane (a natural gas surrogate) substitution on early injection dual fuel combustion at representative low loads of 3.3 and 5.0 bar BMEPs in a single-cylinder compression ignition engine (SCRE). Gaseous methane fumigated into the intake manifold at various methane energy fractions was ignited using a high-pressure diesel pilot injection at 310 CAD. Cyclic combustion variations at both loads were also analyzed to obtain further insights into the combustion process and identify opportunities to further improve fuel conversion efficiencies at low load operation. In the second part, the cyclic variations in dual fuel combustion of three different low reactivity fuels (methane, propane, and gasoline) ignited using a high-pressure diesel pilot injection was examined and the challenges and opportunities in utilizing methane, propane, and gasoline in diesel ignited dual fuel combustion, as well as strategies for mitigating cyclic variations, were explored. Finally, in the third part a CFD model was created for diesel methane dual fuel LTC. The validated model was used to investigate the effect of methane on diesel autoignition and various spray targeting strategies were explored to mitigate high hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions at low load conditions.

Dual fuel pilot ignited natural gas engines are identified as an efficient and viable alternative to conventional diesel engines. This paper examines cyclic combustion fluctuations in conventional dual fuel and in dual fuel partially premixed low temperature combustion (LTC). Conventional dual fueling with 95% (energy basis) natural gas (NG) substitution reduces NOx emissions by almost 90%t relative to straight diesel operation; however, this is accompanied by 98% increase in HC emissions, 10 percentage points reduction in fuel conversion efficiency (FCE) and 12 percentage points increase in COVimep. Dual fuel LTC is achieved by injection of a small amount of diesel fuel (2-3 percent on an energy basis) to ignite a premixed natural gas−air mixture to attain very low NOx emissions (less than 0.2 g/kWh). Cyclic variations in both combustion modes were analyzed by observing the cyclic fluctuations in start of combustion (SOC), peak cylinder pressures (Pmax), combustion phasing (Ca50), and the separation between the diesel injection event and Ca50 (termed "relative combustion phasing" ). For conventional dual fueling, as % NG increases, Pmax decreases, SOC and Ca50 are delayed, and cyclic variations increase. For dual fuel LTC, as diesel injection timing is advanced from 20° to 60° BTDC, the relative combustion phasing is identified as an important combustion parameter along with SoC, Pmax, and CaPmax. For both combustion modes, cyclic variations were characterized by alternating slow and fast burn cycles, especially at high %NG and advanced injection timings. Finally, heat release return maps were analyzed to demonstrate thermal management strategies as an effective tool to mitigate cyclic combustion variations, especially in dual fuel LTC.

Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicle Technologies for Improved Environmental Performance: Towards Zero Carbon Transportation, Second Edition provides a comprehensive view of key developments in advanced fuels and vehicle technologies to improve the energy efficiency and environmental impact of the automotive sector. Sections consider the role of alternative fuels such as electricity, alcohol and hydrogen fuel cells, as well as advanced additives and oils in environmentally sustainable transport. Other topics explored include methods of revising engine and vehicle design to improve environmental performance and fuel economy and developments in electric and hybrid vehicle technologies. This reference will provide professionals, engineers and researchers of alternative fuels with an understanding of the latest clean technologies which will help them to advance the field. Those working in environmental and mechanical engineering will benefit from the detailed analysis of the technologies covered, as will fuel suppliers and energy producers seeking to improve the efficiency, sustainability and accessibility of their work. Provides a fully updated reference with significant technological advances and developments in the sector Presents analyses on the latest advances in electronic systems for emissions control, autonomous systems, artificial intelligence and legislative requirements Includes a strong focus on updated climate change predictions and consequences, helping the reader work towards ambitious 2050 climate change goals for the automotive industry

Universal concerns about degradation in air quality, stringent emissions regulations, energy scarcity, and global warming have prompted research and development of compressed ignition engines using alternative combustion concepts. Natural gas/diesel dual-fuel combustion is an advanced combustion concept for compression ignition diesel engines, which has attracted global attention in recent years. This combustion concept is accomplished by creating reactivity stratification in the cylinder via the use of two fuels characterized by distinctly different reactivities. The low reactivity and main fuel (i.e., natural gas) is firstly premixed with air and then charged into the cylinder through the intake manifold, and the high reactivity fuel (i.e., diesel) is then injected into the charged mixture through a direct injector. This combustion concept offers prominent benefits in terms of a significant reduction of particulate matter (PM) and sometimes nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions while maintaining comparable fuel efficiency compared to diesel engine. However, low thermal efficiency and high greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions under low load conditions are major challenges which prevented the implementation of dual-fuel concept in commercial automative engines. The present study investigates different combustion approaches with the aim to enhance combustion performance and reduce emissions of unburned methane, CO, NOx, soot, and GHG of natural gas/diesel dual-fuel engines under different engine load-speed conditions. In particular, the main focus of this thesis is on low load conditions where GHG emissions of conventional natural gas/diesel dual-fuel engine is much higher than that of conventional diesel engine. Alongside the experimental study, a computational fluid dynamic (CFD) model is developed to help understand the behaviour of natural gas/diesel dual-fuel combustion process under different engine load-speed conditions. The studied approaches showed that the fuel efficiency and GHG emissions of natural gas/diesel dual-fuel engine can be significantly improved under low engine load conditions compared to diesel engine.