Mechanical Engineering Commons^™

Investigation Of Combustion Characteristics Of A Heavy-Duty Diesel Engine Retrofitted To Natural Gas Spark Ignition Operation, Jinlong Liu

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

The conversion of existing diesel engines to natural-gas spark ignition operation by adding a gas injector in the intake manifold for fuel delivery and replacing the diesel fuel injector with a spark plug to initiate and control the combustion process can reduce U.S. dependence on petroleum imports and curtail engine-out emissions. As the conventional diesel combustion chamber (i.e., flat head and bowl-in-piston) creates high turbulence, the engine can operate leaner, which would increase its efficiency and reduce emissions. However, natural gas combustion in such retrofitted engines presents differences compared to that in conventional spark ignited engines. Subsequently, the main goal …