Title: Numerical investigation of the effect of swirl number on performance, combustion, and emissions characteristics in a converted heavy-duty natural gas engine

Authors: Fatih Aktas

Addresses: Faculty of Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Gazi University, 06570, Maltepe, Ankara, Türkiye

Abstract: In this research, the performance, combustion characteristics, and emission behaviour of a diesel engine converted to a spark ignition engine running on natural gas were investigated. The studies were performed at full load, 2,300 rpm, constant spark ignition time, and seven different swirl ratios. As a result, the homogeneous-air fuel mixture formed in the cylinder due to the swirl ratio rising, and the increased combustion performance dominated the heat loss because of the rise in the swirl number, thereby improving the performance. However, with the increase of in-cylinder temperatures, NO_X emissions increased. As the swirl ratio increased from 1.2 to 2.4, the gross indicated power (GIP), indicated mean effective pressure (IMEP), indicated thermal efficiency (ITE), and maximum pressure rise rate (MPRR) values increased by 4.1, 4.13, 3.98, 102.2%, while the gross indicated specific fuel consumption (GISFC) value improved by 3.97%.

Keywords: natural gas; heat transfer; spark ignition; diesel engine; converted engine; emissions; G-equation; swirl number; combustion; internal combustion engine.

DOI: 10.1504/PCFD.2024.138210

Progress in Computational Fluid Dynamics, An International Journal, 2024 Vol.24 No.3, pp.162 - 173

Received: 02 Feb 2023
Accepted: 25 Apr 2023
Published online: 30 Apr 2024 *

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