Numerical analysis of the combustion process in dual-fuel engines with direct injection of natural gas

An efficient computational fluid dynamics model for predicting high pressure dual-fuel combustion is one of the most essential steps in order to improve the concept, to reduce the number of experiments and to make the development process more cost-efficient. For Diesel and natural gas such a model developed by the authors is first used to analyze the combustion process with respect to turbulence chemistry interaction and to clarify the question whether the combustion process is limited by chemistry or the mixing process. On the basis of these findings a reduced reaction mechanism is developed in order to save up to 35% of computing time. The prediction capability of the modified combustion model is tested for different gas injection timings representing different degrees of premixing before ignition. Compared to experimental results from a rapid compression expansion machine, the shape of heat release rate, the ignition timing of the gas jet and the burnout are well predicted. Finally, misfiring observed at different geometric configurations in the experiment are analyzed with the model. It is identified that in these geometric configurations at low temperature levels the gas jet covers the preferred ignition region of the diesel jet. Since the model is based on the detailed chemistry approach, it can in future also be used for other fuel combinations or for predicting emissions.