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In this work the tracer gas method using nitrous oxide as the tracer gas is implemented on a stationary two-stroke cycle, four-cylinder, fuel-injected large-bore natural gas engine. The engine is manufactured by Cooper-Bessemer, model number GMV-4TF. It is representative of the large bore natural gas stationary engine fleet currently in use by the natural gas industry for natural gas compression and power generation. Trapping efficiency measurements are carried out with the tracer gas method at various engine operating conditions, and used to evaluate the scavenging efficiency and trapped A/F ratio. Scavenging efficiency directly affects engine power and trapped A/F ratio has a dramatic impact on pollutant emissions. Engine operating conditions are altered through variations in boost pressure, speed, back pressure, and intake port restriction.

The tracer gas method is investigated as a means to study scavenging in fuel-injected large-bore two-stroke cycle engines. The investigation is performed on a Cooper-Bessemer GMV-4TF natural gas engine, with a 36-cm bore and a 36-cm stroke. Two important parameters are evaluated from the tracer gas measurements, which are scavenging efficiency and trapped A/F ratio. Measurements with the tracer gas method are compared with in-cylinder sampling techniques to evaluate the accuracy of the method. Two different tracers are evaluated, monomethylamine and nitrous oxide. Monomethylamine is investigated because of its common use historically as a tracer gas. Nitrous oxide is a new tracer gas that overcomes many of the difficulties experienced with monomethylamine. The tracer gas method with nitrous oxide is determined to be accurate for evaluating scavenging efficiency and trapped A/F ratio in comparison to the in-cylinder sampling techniques implemented.