Experimental study on stoichiometric laminar flame velocities and Markstein lengths of methane and PRF95 dual fuels

Natural gas is one of the most promising alternative fuels. The main constituent of natural gas is methane. The slow burning velocity of methane poses significant challenges for its utilization in future energy efficient combustion applications. Methane-gasoline dual fuelling has the potential to improve methane’s combustion. The fundamental combustion characteristics of a methane-gasoline Dual Fuel (DF) blend needs further investigation. In the current experimental study, the relationship between laminar flame velocity and Markstein length, with the ratio of gas to liquid in a DF blend has been investigated using spherical flames in a constant volume combustion vessel. A binary blend of primary reference fuels (PRF95) was used as the liquid fuel. Methane was added to PRF95 in three different energy ratios 25%, 50% and 75%. Values of the stoichiometric laminar flame velocities and Markstein lengths are measured at pressures of 2.5, 5, 10 Bar and a temperature of 373 K. It has been found that with a 25% increase in the DF ratio, the Markstein length is reduced by 15%, 21%, 32% at a pressure of 2.5, 5 and 10 Bar respectively whereas at the same pressures the laminar flame velocity is reduced by 2%, 3% and 5%. The flame evolution at the early stages of combustion is found to be faster with an increase in the DF ratio, and gradually as the flame develops it becomes slower

Experimental study on the burning rate of Methane and PRF95 dual fuels

Natural gas as an alternative fuel offers the potential of clean combustion and emits relatively low CO2 emissions. The main constitute of natural gas is methane. Historically, the slow burning speed of methane has been a major concern for automotive applications. Literature on experimental methane–gasoline Dual Fuel (DF) studies on research engines showed that the DF strategy is improving methane combustion, leading to an enhanced initial establishment of burning speed even compared to that of gasoline. The mechanism of such an effect remains unclear. In the present study, pure methane (representing natural gas) and PRF95 (representing gasoline) were supplied to a constant volume combustion vessel to produce a DF air mixture. Methane was added to PRF95 in three different energy ratios 25%, 50% and 75%. Experiments have been conducted at equivalence ratios of 0.8, 1, 1.2, initial pressures of 2.5, 5 and 10 bar and a temperature of 373K. At stoichiometric conditions, experiments in an SI engine have been also performed. It has been found that methane and all DFs have their fastest burning rate at stoichiometric conditions whereas PRF95 at rich conditions (Φ=1.2). At lean conditions (Φ=0.8), all DFs resulted in faster combustion than PRF95, whereas methane is the slowest of all. At rich conditions, DF75 and DF50 are slower than methane. The transition mechanism between the constant volume combustion experiments and those in the engine environment resulted in a larger increase in the burning speed of methane and all DFs in comparison to that of the liquid fuel

Experimental study on stoichiometric laminar flame velocities and Markstein lengths of methane and PRF95 dual fuels

Natural gas is one of the most promising alternative fuels. The main constituent of natural gas is methane. The slow burning velocity of methane poses significant challenges for its utilization in future energy efficient combustion applications. Methane-gasoline dual fuelling has the potential to improve methane’s combustion. The fundamental combustion characteristics of a methane-gasoline Dual Fuel (DF) blend needs further investigation. In the current experimental study, the relationship between laminar flame velocity and Markstein length, with the ratio of gas to liquid in a DF blend has been investigated using spherical flames in a constant volume combustion vessel. A binary blend of primary reference fuels (PRF95) was used as the liquid fuel. Methane was added to PRF95 in three different energy ratios 25%, 50% and 75%. Values of the stoichiometric laminar flame velocities and Markstein lengths are measured at pressures of 2.5, 5, 10 Bar and a temperature of 373 K. It has been found that with a 25% increase in the DF ratio, the Markstein length is reduced by 15%, 21%, 32% at a pressure of 2.5, 5 and 10 Bar respectively whereas at the same pressures the laminar flame velocity is reduced by 2%, 3% and 5%. The flame evolution at the early stages of combustion is found to be faster with an increase in the DF ratio, and gradually as the flame develops it becomes slower