GAS ENGINE TECHNOLOGY

LEAN COMBUSTION THEORY

Major Components in the Atmosphere
(98.9%)
Oxygen
- 20.9% of atmosphere
O - Animal life requires it
- Naturally found as 2 atoms
O - Produced by plants
- Chemical designation: O2

Nitrogen
N - 78% of atmosphere
- An inert gas
N - Naturally found as 2 atoms
- Chemical designation: N2
Trace Compounds in the Atmosphere

Water
H - Concentration depends on
O humidity and temperature
- Chemical designation: H20
H
Carbon Dioxide
- Makes up 0.034% of atmosphere
O - By-product of combustion
C - Exhausted by animal life
- Major contributor to greenhouse
effect
O - Chemical designation: CO2
Trace Compounds in the Atmosphere

Ozone
- Bluish, pungent gas
- Formed by ultraviolet light
O - Formed in upper atmosphere
O - By-product of photochemical smog
- Chemical designation: O3
O
 Restricted Gases From
Incomplete Combustion
Hydrocarbons:
H H - Methane not included as toxic
- Key pollutant emitted by engines
C - Responsible for particulate matter
H H - Fuel in photochemical smog
(Methane) - Chemical designation: CxHy
Carbon Monoxide:
- Colorless and odorless
O - Extremely poisonous
- Believed to promote photochemical
C smog
- Chemical designation: CO
Restricted Gases Found in the Atmosphere
Nitric Oxide
N - Major oxide of nitrogen emitted by
the engine
O - Oxidizes quickly to nitrogen dioxide
- Chemical designation: NO

Nitrogen dioxide
- Pungent smell
O - The catalyst in photochemical smog
N - Yellowish brown in color (Haze)
- Chemical designation: NO2
O
Toxic Gases Normally Not Restricted

Sulfur Dioxide

O - Basic to most combustion

S - Heavy, pungent, colorless gas

- Forms sulfurous acid (mild)
- Can form sulfuric acid (strong)
O - Chemical designation: SO2
Two Types of Smog:

Particulate Smog (Cold wet days)

Photo-chemical Smog (Hot dry days)
 Ultra-violet
light O
NO2
NO

NO2
(Nitrogen Dioxide)

NO O
(Nitric Oxide)
(Atomic Oxygen)
 Formation of Ozone

O (Oxygen)

O
(Atomic Oxygen) O
O O
O (Ozone)
How Hydrocarbons
O
Act as a Fuel
(Atomic
Oxygen)
HC
(Hydrocarbon)

HCO
(Hydrocarbon oxide)
 How Hydrocarbons Act as a Fuel
O
NO
HCO
HC

NO2
HC
 O2
NO2
O
NO HC
O3
HCO Ozone
Main Toxicant
NO2 Photochemical
HC Smog
 Stoichiometric Combustion

Chemically Ideal Combustion

CH4 + 202 + 2N2 Combustion CO2 + 2H20 + 2N2

 H H N
O O C N
H H
H H
C O
N H H O O O
O
N O

Stoichiometric Combustion
 O N
H
O O H H
H N
C O
N C
H N O O
O
H O
H H

Stoichiometric Exhaust
H H
O H H N
C O C N
H H H H

O O
H H
N O C
N O H H

Rich Combustion
 O N
H O
O H
H N
C H C
N O
H H
H N C
O
H O H H
H H

Cooler Flame

Rich Exhaust
 O N
O O N
O
H H
C O
N H H O O O
O
N O

Lean Combustion
 O N O N
O H H
N
C O
O N
H O O O
H O
O
Cooler Flame

Lean Exhaust
 NOx Production
C0 F0 Temperature vs. Oxygen
807 1300 5

670 1250
4
EXHAUST TEMP

642 1200
EXHAUST O2

3 02 %
615 1150
2
587 1100
1
559 1050
Max NOx
532 1000 0
14 15 16 17 18 19 20

AIR / FUEL RATIO

 Emissions
% CO & NOX NOx, CO, & HC %HC

CO

NOX

HC

AIR /FUEL RATIO

GL Emissions vs. Ignition Timing
G/BHP/HR

CO

NOX

NMHC

IGNITION TIMING (BTDC)

 GL Operating Window
- High NOx
- Detonation
Timing Advance

- High
Combustion Rich Lean - Power Loss
Temperature
- Misfire
- Detonation

Timing Retard
- Poor
BSFC
Fuel BTU Variation
Window

Allowable Fuel Gas LHV

Variation Before Adjustment
is required.
 Three Way Catalyst
(G & GSI Engines)
Method of reduction:
- Promotes a chemical reaction of pollutants
- Reduces pollutants by 90%

Disadvantage:

- Must have a tight control on air/fuel ratio

- Efficiency declines with time
- Expensive
- May compromise engine life
- Fuel must be H2S free
 Gas Lean Burn (GL) Engine

Method of reduction:
- Operates at an extremely lean air/fuel ratio
Advantages:
- Cost savings
- Ability to operate on sour fuels (sulfur)
 Emissions
%CO & NOX NOx, CO, & HC %HC

CO HC

NOX

AIR / FUEL RATIO

 Emission Levels
VHP Series
Grams/Bhp - hr
AFR NOx CO THC
Best Power 7 28 2
Equal CO & NOx 10 10 2
Best Economy 18 1 1
EGR 4 2 1
GL 1.5 2.65 1 NMHC
Catalyst (G/GSI) 0.7 2 1
CHEMISTRY