Technical Paper
Effect of Fluid Flow on Combustion Process of Natural Gas in a Rapid Compression Combustor
1996-10-01
961937
For the final goal of developing the natural gas fueled spark ignition engine with high thermal efficiency and low pollutant emission, the effects of the fluid flow inside a combustion chamber on the combustion process of a homogeneous lean mixture of natural gas and air were examined using a rapid compression combustor. The rapid compression combustor was designed to simulate the combustion process in a spark ignition engine involving the rapid compression of a mixture and the heal release during flame propagation. The main advantage of using this combustor is that experiments can be made under the idealized and well-controlled conditions. The time history of pressure in the combustion cylinder was measured with a pressure transducer. The fluid flow in the combustion cylinder was varied using two kinds of experimental technique. First, compression ratio, piston speed and the configuration of the piston head were changed.