Homogeneous Ignition Delay, Flame Propagation Rate and End-Gas Autoignition Fraction Measurements of Natural Gas and Exhaust Gas Recirculation Blends in a Rapid Compression Machine

To evaluate the effect of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) and variable fuel reactivity on knock and misfire in spark ignited national gas engines, experiments were conducted in a rapid compression machine to measure homogeneous ignition delay, flame propagation rate, and end-gas autoignition fraction for stoichiometric natural gas/oxidizer/EGR blends. Natural gas with a range of chemical reactivity was simulated using mixtures of CH4, C2H6, and C3H8. Reactive exhaust gas recirculation (R-EGR) gases were simulated with mixtures of Ar, CO2, CO, and NO and non-reactive exhaust gas recirculation gases (NR-EGR) were simulated with mixtures of AR and CO2. Homogeneous ignition delay period, flame propagation rate and end-gas autoignition fraction were measured at compressed pressures and temperatures of 30.2 to 34.0 bar and 667 to 980 K, respectively. Flame propagation rate decreased with both R-EGR and NR-EGR substitution. The substitution of R-EGR increased the end-gas autoignition fraction, whereas NR-EGR substitution decreased the end-gas autoignition fraction. The results indicate that the presence of the reactive species NO in the R-EGR has a strong impact on end-gas autoignition fraction. An 82-species reduced chemical kinetic mechanism was also developed that reproduces measured homogeneous ignition delay period with a total average relative error of 11.0%.