Research on the Gas/Diesel Dual Fuel Combustion Engine with the Fuel Reformation by Piston Compression (First Report)

― Chemical Reaction Processes of Fuel Reforming and Methods to Control Gas Composition ―

Abstract

The lean combustion of reformed gases has a potential for low NOx emissions and high thermal efficiency. The reformed gases are produced by piston compression of rich mixture in a reformer cylinder, introduced to a power cylinder with air, and ignited with diesel micro-pilot injection. The research is focused on the fuel reformation in the reformer cylinder. The reaction processes to the reformed gases and productions are first investigated by chemical kinetic simulations. Then, the engine experiments are conducted to validate the simulations, and the control of composition and productions of reformed gases by engine operations are discussed.