High-Efficiency and Clean Combustion Natural Gas Engines for Vehicles

Natural gas engines have become increasingly important in transportation applications,especially in the commercial vehicle sector.With increasing demand for high efficiency and low emissions,new technologies must be explored to overcome the performance limitations of natural gas engines such as limits on lean or dilute combustion,unstable combustion,low burning velocity,and high emissions of CH_(4) and NO_(x).This paper reviews the progress of research on natural gas engines over recent decades,concentrating on ignition and combustion systems,mixture preparation,the development of different combustion modes,and after-treatment strategies.First,the features,advantages,and disadvantages of natural gas engines are introduced,following which the development of advanced ignition systems,organization of highly turbulent flows,and the preparation of high-reactivity mixtures in spark ignition engines are discussed with a focus on pre-chamber jet ignition,combustion chamber design,and H_(2)-enriched natural gas combustion.Third,the progress in natural gas dual-fuel engines is highlighted,including the exploration of new combustion modes,the development of novel pilot fuels,and the optimization of combustion control strategies.The fourth section discusses after-treatment systems for natural gas engines operating in different combustion modes.Finally,conclusions and future trends in the development of high-efficiency and clean combus-tion in natural gas engines are summarized.

Analysis of the Impact of Thermochemical Recuperation of Waste Heat on the Energy Efficiency of Gas Carriers

Enlarging the fleet of gas carriers would make it possible to respond to the growing demand for hydrocarbon gases,but it will increase carbon dioxide emissions.The International Maritime Organization(IMO)has developed the energy efficiency design index(EEDI)with the objective of carbon emission reduction for new ships.In this paper,thirty gas carriers transporting liquefied natural gas(LNG)and liquefied petroleum gas(LPG)and equipped with various types of main engines are considered.As shown by the calculation of the attained EEDI,2 of the 13 LPG carriers and 6 of the 17 LNG carriers under study do not comply with the EEDI requirements.To meet the stringent EEDI requirements,applying thermochemical regenerators(TCRs)fed by main engine exhaust gases is suggested.Mathematical modeling is applied to analyze the characteristics of the combined gas-turbine-electric and diesel-electric power plant with thermochemical recuperation of the exhaust gas heat.Utilizing TCR on gas carriers with engines fueled by syngas produced from boil-off gas(BOG)reduces the carbon content by 35%and provides the energy efficiency required by IMO without the use of other technologies.

双燃料船用发动机废能回收系统的技术经济比较

Nowadays alternative and innovative energy recovery solutions are adopted on board ships to reduce fuel consumption and harmful emissions.According to this,the present work compares the engine exhaust gas waste heat recovery and hybrid turbocharger technologies,which are used to improve the efficiency of a dual-fuel four-stroke(DF)marine engine.Both solutions aim to satisfy partly or entirely the ship’s electrical and/or thermal loads.For the engine exhaust gas waste heat recovery,two steam plant schemes are considered:the single steam pressure and the variable layout(single or dual steam pressure plant).In both cases,a heat recovery steam generator is used for the electric power energy generation through a steam turbine.The hybrid turbocharger is used to provide a part of the ship’s electric loads as well.The thermodynamic mathematical models of DF engines,integrated with the energy recovery systems,are developed in a Matlab-Simulink environment,allowing the comparison in terms of performance at different engine loads and fuels,which are Natural Gas(NG)and High Fuel Oil(HFO).The use of NG always involves better efficiency of the system for all the engine working conditions.It results that the highest efficiency value achievable is 56%at 50%maximum continuous rating(MCR)engine load.

Analysis of Efficiency of the Ship Propulsion System with Thermochemical Recuperation of Waste Heat

One of the basic ways to reduce polluting emissions of ship power plants is application of innovative devices for on-board energy generation by means of secondary energy resources.The combined gas turbine and diesel engine plant with thermochemical recuperation of the heat of secondary energy resources has been considered.It is suggested to conduct the study with the help of mathematical modeling methods.The model takes into account basic physical correlations,material and thermal balances,phase equilibrium,and heat and mass transfer processes.The paper provides the results of mathematical modeling of the processes in a gas turbine and diesel engine power plant with thermochemical recuperation of the gas turbine exhaust gas heat by converting a hydrocarbon fuel.In such a plant,it is possible to reduce the specific fuel consumption of the diesel engine by 20%.The waste heat potential in a gas turbine can provide efficient hydrocarbon fuel conversion at the ratio of powers of the diesel and gas turbine engines being up to 6.When the diesel engine and gas turbine operate simultaneously with the use of the LNG vapor conversion products,the efficiency coefficient of the plant increases by 4%–5%.

A Case Study of a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Plant on Board a Cruise Ship

The work is a case study of a cruise ship supplied by liquefied natural gas(LNG)and equipped with a solid oxide fuel cell(SOFC).It is supposed that a 20 MW SOFC plant is installed on-board to supply hotel loads and assisting three dual-fuel(DF)diesel/LNG generator sets.LNG consumption and emissions are estimated both for the SOFC plant and DF generator sets.It results that the use of LNG-SOFC plant in comparison to DF generator sets allows to limit significantly the SO_(x),CO,NO_(x),PM emissions and to reduce the emission of CO_(2)by about 11%.A prediction of the weight and volume of the SOFC plant is conducted and a preliminary modification of the general arrangement of the cruise ship is suggested,according to the latest international rules.It results that the SOFC plant is heavier and occupies more volume on board than a DF gen-set;nevertheless,these features do not affect the floating and the stability of the cruise ship.