Effect of compression ratio and hydrogen addition on part throttle performance of a LPG fuelled lean burn spark ignition engine

A single cylinder CI engine was modified to operate as a LPG fuelled lean burn SI engine. The engine was tested at 1500 rpm and 20% throttle opening at compression ratios 9:1, 10:1, 10.5:1 and 11:1 by varying equivalence ratios. The influence of compression ratio and 15% hydrogen substitution on energy basis at the optimal compression ratio of 10.5:1 on performance, emission and combustion behavior were studied and compared. The brake thermal efficiency and brake power output increases with rise in compression ratio, and above a critical value of 10.5:1 the improvement was small when compared to the increase in emissions. The advantage of brake thermal efficiency from higher compression ratio is narrow under low load conditions. The ever increasing load due to the auxiliaries which are likely to grow more require better low load performance and emissions. Wide flammable limits of hydrogen enable ultra-lean combustion and its anti-knock enhancement makes it advantageous compared to increasing the compression ratio at part throttle condition. Hydrogen addition enhanced the combustion rate and heat release rate, reduced cyclic variations, and extended the lean limit of operation. There was perceptible improvement in brake thermal efficiency, brake power and considerable reductions in hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide levels. Due to retarded ignition timing the NOx emission increase was not significant.