Emission reduction of natural gas spark ignition engines

• Grant number: 93/00566-9
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• Start date: January 01, 1994
• End date: May 31, 2001
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Mechanical Engineering - Thermal Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Francisco Emílio Baccaro Nigro
• Grantee: Francisco Emílio Baccaro Nigro
• Host Institution: Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnológicas S/A (IPT). Secretaria de Desenvolvimento Econômico (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant(s): 00/02847-0 - Modelling of hydrocarbons formation and emission in gas engines., AR.EXT; 95/01351-1 - Water injection to reduced nox emission in natural gas engines., AR.EXT

Abstract

Although there are in the world more than half million vehicles running with natural gas (CNG) only recently its technology is evolving to become comparable to other fuels. In Brazil, as gasoline and alcohol substitute, the CNG has a meaningful economic advantage to fleet vehicles, and its use has been consolidated, for example, in taxis. As a diesel oil substitute, looking for pollution reduction in metropolitan areas, its use has been enforced to urban buses. Comparing to compression ignition (diesel) engines, CNG engines have low particulate material (smoke) emissions. However, it is necessary to assure reliable operation and control over other pollutant compounds mainly nitrogen oxides (NOx). This research project intends to study important aspects concerning pollutant emissions of CNG spark ignition bus engines. Specifically: - analysis of natural gas composition influence on engines performance and emissions; - evaluation of injection and ignition electronic systems, including the engine system identification for future development of management and control systems; - development of combustion chamber geometry adequate to CNG lean burning. The use of simulation models of combustion and emissions together with a wide experimental program should yield to emission reduction without loss of performance and fuel consumption in the current CNG engines. This project also improves the public technical qualification on environmental issues, providing the necessary knowledge to implementation of future regulations. (AU)