Fuel efficiency enhancement of modified diesel engine operated in dual fuel mode using renewable and sustainable fuels

ABSTRACT

Renewable and sustainable fuels for diesel engine applications provide energy protection, overseas exchange saving and address atmospheric and socio-economic concerns. This study presents the investigational work carried out on a single cylinder, four-stroke, direct injection diesel engine operated in dual fuel (DF) mode using renewable and sustainable fuels. In the first phase, a Y-shaped mixing chamber or venture was developed with varied angle facility for gas entry at 30°, 45° and 60°, respectively, to enable homogeneous air and gas mixing. Further effect of different gas and air mixture entry on the DF engine performance was studied. In the next phase of the work, hydrogen flow rate influence on the combustion and emission characteristics of a compression ignition (CI) engine operated in DF mode using diesel, neem oil methyl ester (NeOME) and producer gas has been investigated. During experimentation, hydrogen was mixed in different proportions varied from 3 to 12 l/min (lpm) in step of 3 lpm along with air-producer gas and the mixtures were directly inducted into engine cylinder during suction stroke. Experimental investigation showed that 45° Y-shaped mixing chamber resulted in improved performance with acceptable emission levels. Further, it is observed that investigation showed that at maximum operating conditions and hydrogen flow rate of 9 lpm, Diesel–producer gas and NeOME–producer gas combination showed increased thermal efficiency by 13.2% and 3.8%, respectively, compared to the DF operation without hydrogen addition. Further, it is noticed that hydrogen-enriched producer gas lowers the power derating by 5–10% and increases nitric oxide (NO_x) emissions. However, increased hydrogen addition beyond the 12 lpm leads to sever knocking.

Abbreviations: NeOME: Neem oil methyl ester; BTE: brake thermal efficiency; CI: compression ignition; ITE: indicated thermal efficiency; PG: producer gas; CA: crank angle; K: Kelvin; BP: brake power; IP: indicated power; H₂: hydrogen; HC: unburnt hydrocarbon; CO: carbon dioxide; CO₂: carbon dioxide; NO_x: nitric oxide; HRR: heat release rate; %: percentage; PPM: parts per million; CMFIS: conventional mechanical fuel injection system.     

Integrating soil carbon cycling with that of nitrogen and phosphorus in the watershed model SWAT: Theory and model testing

In this paper we describe and test a sub-model that integrates the cycling of carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in the Soil Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) watershed model. The core of the sub-model is a multi-layer, one-pool soil organic carbon (S_C) algorithm, in which the decomposition rate of S_C and input rate to S_C (through decomposition and humification of residues) depend on the current size of S_C. The organic N and P fluxes are coupled to that of C and depend on the available mineral N and P, and the C:N and N:P ratios of the decomposing pools. Tillage explicitly affects the soil organic matter turnover rate through tool-specific coefficients. Unlike most models, the turnover of soil organic matter does not follow first order kinetics. Each soil layer has a specific maximum capacity to accumulate C or C saturation (S_x) that depends on texture and controls the turnover rate. It is shown in an analytical solution that S_x is a parameter with major influence in the model C dynamics. Testing with a 65-yr data set from the dryland wheat growing region in Oregon shows that the model adequately simulates the S_C dynamics in the topsoil (top 0.3 m) for three different treatments. Three key model parameters, the optimal decomposition and humification rates and a factor controlling the effect of soil moisture and temperature on the decomposition rate, showed low uncertainty as determined by generalized likelihood uncertainty estimation. Nonetheless, the parameter set that provided accurate simulations in the topsoil tended to overestimate S_C in the subsoil, suggesting that a mechanism that expresses at depth might not be represented in the current sub-model structure. The explicit integration of C, N, and P fluxes allows for a more cohesive simulation of nutrient cycling in the SWAT model. The sub-model has to be tested in forestland and rangeland in addition to agricultural land, and in diverse soils with extreme properties such high or low pH, an organic horizon, or volcanic soils.     

Effects of significant damage of flame gap surfaces in flameproof electrical apparatus on flame gap efficiency

Electrical apparatus for use in the presence of explosive gas atmospheres has to be specially designed to prevent the apparatus from igniting the gas. Flameproof design is one of several options, and one requirement is then that any holes and slits in the enclosure wall be designed to prevent a possible gas explosion inside the enclosure from being transmitted to an explosive gas cloud outside it. Current standards (IEC) require that joint surfaces have a surface roughness of <6.3 μm. Any damaged joint surface has be restored to this quality. The present investigation has demonstrated that flame gap surfaces in flameproof electrical apparatuses can suffer considerable mechanical and corrosive damage before the flame gaps no longer function satisfactorily. In some cases very significant mechanical surface damage in fact improves the gap performance. This indicates that current high costs of repairing and replacing flameproof electrical apparatus in process plants offshore and onshore can be reduced considerably without any increase of the explosion risk.     

人工强制混合充氧及诱导自然混合对水源水库水质改善效果分析

为探究人工强制混合充氧与诱导持续混合对水质改善的影响及人工强制混合与自然混合的衔接条件,以李家河水库为例,于2017年6月至2019年4月开展水质及水文气象指标监测,分析自然过程及人工诱导混合过程各时期水温、溶解氧及水质变化特征.结果表明:①自然过程分层期持续时间长,混合期仅为2.5个月,人工诱导混合过程通过扬水曝气系统的运行, 9月底水体达到完全混合且进入降温期,诱导自然混合条件具备,表层水温、平均气温分别为20.17℃和16.5℃,此时系统关闭后水体持续自然混合,混合周期延长至5.5个月;②自然过程污染物浓度较高,混合期表层污染物浓度呈现先增加后降低的趋势,氧跃层伴随热分层出现,底部厌氧周期达6个月;③相较于自然过程,人工诱导混合过程水体等温层厌氧消除且污染物控制效果良好, 10月至翌年3月同期底层NH~+_4-N、 TP、 Fe和Mn浓度的削减率为76.2%、 75.5%、 82.2%和82.1%,均达到地表水环境质量标准,人工诱导混合过程有利于水质改善及混合作用时效的延长.     

基于TEM-EDS对四川盆地大气单颗粒气溶胶的研究

为了解四川盆地大气中单颗粒气溶胶理化特征,分别在该区域典型城市（成都市）和背景地区（峨眉山）进行了大气单颗粒样品采集.基于带能谱的透射电子显微镜（TEM-EDS）对两地累计3923个单颗粒的化学组成、形貌特征及混合状态等进行了全面观测和分析,并对两地颗粒物差异性进行了对比分析.结果发现：两地气溶胶颗粒主要包括有机物、富硫、矿物、烟尘和飞灰/金属颗粒,除了以单独的外混形式存在外,大多数颗粒以两种及两种以上颗粒类型混合（即内混）形式存在.通过对成都市不同污染状况下单颗粒特征对比发现,"污染天"的内混颗粒占比高于"清洁天",分别为74.2%和68.6%;相比"清洁天","污染天"颗粒物粒径分布范围更广且峰值区间更大,表明污染过程中颗粒物的大气混合趋于更强.对比成都市与峨眉山分析结果得知,成都市以内混的有机物-硫颗粒为主导（占比为50.2%）,而峨眉山以外混的有机物颗粒为主导（占比为50.5%）;成都市含硫类颗粒物（如有机物-硫颗粒）贡献高于峨眉山,而峨眉山两种含碳类颗粒（如烟尘和有机物-烟尘颗粒）占比高于成都市;此外,成都市与峨眉山两地大气颗粒物粒径分布范围及峰值区间均存在一定差异,进一步体现了两地颗粒物来源和老化混合的差异.在峨眉山,与非降雨天相比,一些易溶于水的颗粒物（如含硫类颗粒）在降雨天占比明显降低,而源自当地燃烧过程、粒径较小且疏水性强的颗粒物（如烟尘和有机物-烟尘颗粒）占比相应升高.     

毛细管柱气相色谱法测定环境空气中1,2-二氯乙烷

采用毛细管柱气相色谱法测定环境空气中的1,2-二氯乙烷,用活性碳吸附,二硫化碳解析,FID检测器分析.方法在0 mg/L～311mg/L范围内线性良好,当采样体积为20 L时,最低检出质量浓度为0.006 mg/m3,标准溶液平行测定的RSD≤2.2%,加标回收率为98.4%～101%.     

A study on the obstacle-induced variation of the gas explosion characteristics

A study on the variation of the gas explosion characteristics caused by the built-in obstacles was conducted in enclosed/vented gas explosion vessels. It has been well known that the obstacles in pipes and long ducts would accelerate the flame propagation, and cause the transition from deflagration to detonation. In this study, the explosion characteristics and the flame behavior of vented explosions and constant-volume explosions were investigated. Experiments were carried out in a 270-liter and 36-liter hexahedron vessels filled with LPG–air mixture. The explosion characteristics of the gas mixture were determined by using a strain-responding pressure transducer. The flame behavior was recorded by using a high-speed video camera. The shape and the size of the obstacle, and the gas concentration, were adjusted in the experiments.

It can be seen from the experimental results that, instead of being accelerated, the flame propagation inside the explosion vessel is decelerated by the plate obstacles fixed at the bottom of the vessel. Also, the characteristics of the enclosed explosion are not so affected by the built-in obstacles as those of the vented explosion are. It is believed that the eddy-induced turbulence behind the obstacle decelerates the flame propagation.     

Transport of volatile compounds in porous media in the presence of a trapped gas phase

The presence of an immobile gaseous phase in an otherwise-saturated porous medium affects the transport of volatile compounds. The linear theory of partitioning tracers suggests that a volatile tracer introduced into such a system should be retarded with a constant retardation factor. Using high concentrations, however, the saturation of the gaseous phase will change as an effect of the tracer test itself. Competitive gas transfer among all volatile compounds and the change of saturation may lead to tracer concentrations that are temporarily higher than those injected. We analyze the system in the framework of the coherence theory by Helfferich [Soc. Pet. Eng. J. 21 (1) (1981) 51]. The governing equations are formulated as functions of total concentration, i.e., the mass of solutes in all phases per pore volume. Neglecting dispersion and mass-transfer kinetics, we derive the characteristic form of the resulting system of hyperbolic equations. In a system with N volatile compounds, a variation of the concentrations splits up into N waves, each traveling with its own characteristic velocity. If the presence of a gaseous phase is sustained, one wave will be a standing one. We perform numerical model calculations for tracers with various Henry's law coefficients and show that the results agree with the semi-analytical solution obtained by coherence theory.     

煤和瓦斯突出过程中瓦斯作用机理的研究

阐述了瓦斯在煤和瓦斯突出过程中所起的作用 ;指出煤层中瓦斯的存在改变了煤岩体的物理力学性质及响应特性 ,使之成为非稳定介质 ;特别强调在瓦斯突出发生时 ,瓦斯膨胀能起了至关重要的作用 ;由于瓦斯的存在 ,加剧了煤体失稳破坏的过程。