https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5700-6695
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ABSTRACT
The combustion performance of laser-ignited methanol-air mixture in a constant volume combustion chamber was investigated using the Schlieren photography technique. The experimentation was conducted at 5, 7, 9, and 11 MPa fuel injection pressure and 363 K initial chamber temperature using a neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser of 1064 nm wavelength. The gasoline direct injection (GDI) system was used for injecting the fuel at different pressures inside the chamber. The laser beam is focused into the chamber using a 150 mm focal length lens, and laser energy of 200 mJ was used for all experimentation. The Schlieren system was used for capturing flame propagation of methanol-air mixture for different equivalence ratios. The pressure-time history for equivalence ratio (ϕ) of 0.8, 0.9, and 1.0 was plotted and analyzed at different chamber filling pressures. Flame propagation was found faster for ϕ of 1.0 due to higher laminar velocity than 0.8 and 0.9. Flame visualization showed that the flame attains the ellipsoid shape during the early stage of ignition. It generates two lobes in the vertical direction and then again expands in a horizontal direction toward the ignition source. For all equivalence ratios, the flame propagation toward the incoming laser source (X-) was observed faster compared to the flame propagation in the direction and perpendicular to the laser beam direction. For all equivalence ratios, higher laminar flame speed was observed at 5 MPa injection pressure; however, it decreases as the injection pressure increases. At ϕ of 1.0 and 11 MPa injection pressure, the maximum peak pressure of 0.67 MPa and combustion duration of 19.3 ms were noted. At 9 MPa injection pressure and ϕ of 1.0, the peak pressure and combustion duration was found as 0.61 MPa and 19.4 ms, respectively. At ϕ of 0.8, the peak pressure and combustion duration were observed 0.27 MPa with 34.6 ms duration and 0.47 MPa with 36.9 ms duration at 5 MPa and 11 MPa injection pressures, respectively.
Highlights
Laser-ignited combustion of methanol-air mixture in the constant volume combustion chamber (CVCC) at different equivalence ratios (ϕ) was investigated.
The maximum flame propagation in all directions was observed at ϕ of 1.0. However, at all ϕ, the flame propagation towards the incoming laser source (X-) was observed at maximum.
Peak pressure increases with an increase in fuel injection pressure from 5 MPa to 11 MPa and ϕ from 0.8 to 1.0.
Maximum pressure of 0.67 MPa was observed at an ϕ of 1.0 at a fuel injection pressure of 11 MPa.
Minimum combustion duration was observed at 5 MPa fuel injection pressures.
Nomenclature
| CVCC | = | Constant Volume Combustion Chamber |
| Nd:YAG | = | Neodymium-doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet |
| ϕ | = | Equivalence ratio |
| GDI | = | Gasoline Direct Injection |
| LI | = | Laser Ignition |
| SI | = | Spark Ignition |
| CI | = | Compressed Ignition |
| MIE | = | Minimum Ignition Energy |
| fps | = | Frames Per Second |
| NOx | = | Nitrogen Oxide |
| CO | = | Carbon Monoxide |
| CO2 | = | Carbon Dioxide |
| PM | = | Particulate Matter |
| HC | = | Hydrocarbons |
| THC | = | Total Hydrocarbons |
| EHN | = | 2-ethylhexyl nitrate |
| CH3OH | = | Methanol |
| X- | = | Flame propagation toward the incoming laser beam |
| X+ | = | Flame propagation in the direction of the laser beam |
| Y | = | Flame propagation in perpendicular to the laser beam |
| MPa | = | Mega Pascal |
| K | = | Kelvin |
| SL | = | Laminar Flame Speed |
| SLo | = | Laminar Flame Speed at a reference condition |
| Po | = | Reference Pressure (MPa) |
| To | = | Reference Temperature (K) |
| = | Constants for given fuel |
Acknowledgements
This research was assisted by the Technical Education Quality Improvement Program (TEQIP) at the College of Engineering, Pune.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Additional information
Funding
Notes on contributors
Shrimanitni Shantaram Patil
Shrimantini Shantaram Patil is a research scholar at the CoEP Technological University, Pune, India. She earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Shivaji University, India. She earned his Master’s Degree in Heat Power Engineering from Sinhgad College of Engineering Pune, Savitribai Phule Pune University, India. She completed her PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the College of Engineering, Pune, Savitribai Phule Pune University, India. She has published more than 7 papers in various national and international journals.
Prashant Mahadev Patane
Prashant Mahadev Patane is a research scholar at the CoEP Technological University, Pune, India. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Shivaji University, India. He earned his Master’s Degree in Thermal Engineering from the College of Engineering Pune, Savitribai Phule Pune University, India. Since 2018, he is pursuing a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the College of Engineering Pune, Savitribai Phule Pune University, India. He has published more than 7 papers in various national and international journals.
Milankumar Ramakant Nandgaonkar
Dr. Milankumar Ramakant Nandgaonkar is a Professor at CoEP Technological University, Pune, India. He earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Amravati University, India, in 2002. His research area includes I.C. Engines, laser Ignition, alternative fuels and CFD. Dr. Nandgaonkar has developed a state-of-the-art laser combustion research laboratory, I.C. engine and fuel testing laboratory and battery testing laboratory at the College of Engineering, Pune. He has developed a mathematical model for predicting soot and NOX emissions of DI Diesel engines under transient operating conditions. He has published more than 60 papers in various national and international journals.