Bryan Willson

Use of hollow-core fibers to deliver nanosecond Nd:YAG laser pulses to form sparks in gases

We report what is to our knowledge the first delivery of nanosecond laser pulses through flexible fibers to produce optical sparks in atmospheric-pressure gases. Our work employs a Nd:YAG laser beam (1.064 microm) delivered through a cyclic olefin polymer-coated silver hollow fiber. We studied the beam properties at the fiber exit as a function of the fiber launch geometry. We found that for a low-angle launch (approximately 0.01 rad half-angle), the exit beam has relatively high optical intensity (approximately 2 GW/cm2) and low light divergence (approximately 0.01 rad half-angle) and allows downstream spark formation. The effect of fiber bending on the exit beam and on the ability to make sparks is also investigated.

Characteristic and Computational Fluid Dynamics Modeling of High-Pressure Gas Jet Injection

The topic of this paper is the computational modeling of the gas injection process in a large-bore natural gas fueled engine. At high injection pressures, the overall gas injection and mixing process includes compressible flow features such as rarefaction waves and shock formation. The injection geometries examined in the paper include both a two-dimensional slot and an axisymmetric nozzle. The computations examine the effect of the supply pressure/cylinder stagnation pressure ratio, with ratios ranging from 3 to 80, on the velocity and pressure profiles in the near field region. Computational fluid dynamics modeling was compared with results obtained from a two-dimensional analytical method of characteristics solution and experimental results. The comparison process evaluated factors such as pressure and Mach number profiles, jet boundary shape, and shock location.

Microalgae growth modeling and control for a vertical flat panel photobioreactor

Microalgae have the potential to produce enough biofuels to meet the current US fuel demands. In order to achieve this potential, photobioreactors (PBRs) need to be developed that are efficient, scalable, and affordable. Models are an analytical tool that can be used to evaluate various PBRs. In this article, a dynamic model is developed for growing microalgae in a vertical flat panel photobioreactor (PBR) that may be used to measure PBR efficiency for various architectures independent of scale. The growth model is used to estimate the microalgae growth and byproduct production and consumption as a function of incident light. A feed-forward controller is developed that uses the estimated amount of CO2 consumed to determine the amount of additional CO2 to add to the system during photosynthesis. An overall controller structure that uses both feed-forward and feedback control is presented for growing microalgae inside a PBR.

Development of the tracer gas method for large bore natural gas engines. Part I: Method validation

The tracer gas method is investigated as a means to study scavenging in fuel-injected large-bore two-stroke cycle engines. The investigation is performed on a Cooper-Bessemer GMV-4TF natural gas engine, with a 36-cm bore and a 36-cm stroke. Two important parameters are evaluated from the tracer gas measurements, which are scavenging efficiency and trapped A/F ratio. Measurements with the tracer gas method are compared with in-cylinder sampling techniques to evaluate the accuracy of the method. Two different tracers are evaluated, monomethylamine and nitrous oxide. Monomethylamine is investigated because of its common use historically as a tracer gas. Nitrous oxide is a new tracer gas that overcomes many of the difficulties experienced with monomethylamine. The tracer gas method with nitrous oxide is determined to be accurate for evaluating scavenging efficiency and trapped A/F ratio in comparison to the in-cylinder sampling techniques implemented.

Development of the tracer gas method for large bore natural gas engines. Part II: Measurement of scavenging parameters

In this work the tracer gas method using nitrous oxide as the tracer gas is implemented on a stationary two-stroke cycle, four-cylinder, fuel-injected large-bore natural gas engine. The engine is manufactured by Cooper-Bessemer, model number GMV-4TF. It is representative of the large bore natural gas stationary engine fleet currently in use by the natural gas industry for natural gas compression and power generation. Trapping efficiency measurements are carried out with the tracer gas method at various engine operating conditions, and used to evaluate the scavenging efficiency and trapped A/F ratio. Scavenging efficiency directly affects engine power and trapped A/F ratio has a dramatic impact on pollutant emissions. Engine operating conditions are altered through variations in boost pressure, speed, back pressure, and intake port restriction.

The effect of air-fuel ratio control strategies on nitrogen compound formation in three-way catalysts

Abstract The ability of three-way catalysts (TWCs) to effectively remove CO and NOx from the exhaust is directly controlled by the air-fuel ratio at which the accompanying engine is operated. In a stoichiometric engine, small variations in the air-fuel ratio have large effects on the catalyst performance. These effects include wide variations in removal efficiencies and catalytic production of ammonia. The effect of the air-fuel ratio on catalysts has been well studied on automotive engines; these studies show the importance of maintaining an air-fuel ratio close to stoichiometric conditions. In automotive systems a ‘dithering’ technique is used in which the air-fuel ratio is modulated to widen the window of control. The effect of dithering on industrial engines has not been studied. A research programme was conducted to evaluate the effects of the air-fuel ratio on the performance of three-way catalysts operating on natural gas-fuelled industrial engines, the test programme aims at optimizing the engine based on the performance of the catalyst. This project has shown that dithering is an effective technique for enhancing the performance of TWCs on industrial engines. These results show that the allowable air-fuel ratio deviations are much larger with dithering and that the production of ammonia is significantly reduced.

Towards Multiplexed Fiber Delivered Laser Ignition for Natural Gas Engines

The use of laser ignition for advanced gas engines may provide benefits including extension of the lean limit and higher efficiency operation at elevated pressures. This contribution provides a short review of efforts to develop a practical laser ignition system for advanced multicylinder gas engines. The approach is to use a single laser source with fiber optic cables delivering the high power pulses from the source to the engine cylinders. The optical requirements for the fiber delivery lead us to use coated hollow core optical fibers. Characterizations and results of spark delivery tests for the fibers are presented. Single-cylinder engine test results using fiber delivered laser ignition are summarized. For multicylinder operation, a multiplexer based on a moving mirror is used to route the laser output pulses to different fiber channels (cylinders). Benchtop testing and initial engine testing of the multiplexed system are presented.

Formaldehyde Characterization Utilizing In-Cylinder Sampling in a Large Bore Natural Gas Engine

This research addresses the growing need to better understand the mechanisms through which engine-out formaldehyde is formed in two-stroke cycle large bore natural gas engines. The investigation is performed using a number of different in-cylinder sampling techniques implemented on a Cooper-Bessemer GMV-4TF four-cylinder two-stroke cycle large bore natural gas engine with a 36-cm (14-in.) bore and a 36-cm (14-in.) stroke. The development and application of various in-cylinder sampling techniques is described. Three different types of valves are utilized, (I) a large sample valve for extracting a significant fraction of the cylinder mass (2) a fast sample valve for crank angle resolution, and (3) check valves. Formaldehyde in-cylinder sampling data are presented that show formaldehyde mole fractions at different times during the engine cycle and at different locations in the engine cylinder. The test results indicate that the latter part of the expansion process is a critical time for engine-out formaldehyde formation. The data show that significant levels of formaldehyde form during piston and end-gas compression. Additionally, formaldehyde is measured during the combustion process at mole fractions five to ten times higher than engine-out formaldehyde mole fractions. Formaldehyde is nearly completely destroyed during the final part of the combustion process. The test results provide insights that advance the current understanding and help direct future work on formaldehyde formation.

Precombustion Chamber NOx Emission Contribution to an Industrial Natural Gas Engine

Abstract This work expands the knowledge base concerning the formation of oxides of nitrogen (NO x ) in the precombustion chamber (PCC) of a four-stroke lean burn (4SLB) industrial gas engine. Two analysis methods were used to characterize specific exhaust constituent concentrations formed in the PCC. The first method extracted gas from the PCC and the overall engine exhaust to be analysed by the industry standard five gas rack (THC, NO x , O 2 , CO 2 , and CO) and a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR) to quantify formaldehyde (CH2O), nitric oxide (NO), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations. This paper focuses only on NO x . The engine was operated at the manufacturers recommended conditions and at the engines lean limit. A PCC air-fuel ratio (A/F) map was performed at each engine operating condition by varying the fuel supply pressure to the PCC. An analytical model was developed to estimate the mass flow between the PCC and main cylinder, and mass flow out of the PCC through a sample extraction apparatus. The model was applied at specific instances during the engine cycle to clarify raw emissions data obtained directly from a cylindes PCC. The model was developed to determine the origin of the mass sampled from the PCC which, in turn, was used to correct the measured pollutant concentrations. The corrected concentrations allowed for a comparison between NO x , emissions formed in the PCC and the overall engine exhaust on a mass specific basis. PCC-formed NO x , were found to constitute ε10 per cent while operating at the manufactures recommended conditions and upwards of ε75 per cent when at the lean limit. The second test method utilized the high-speed chemiluminescence capabilities of a Cambustion fNOX400 analyser to measure NO concentration in gas extracted from the PCC on a half crank angle basis. The intra-cycle NO data were recorded simultaneously with pressure traces from the PCC and main cylinder by a Hi-Techniques combustion analysis system. The high-speed data acquisition system provided qualitative information on both intra-cycle NO concentrations and cycle-to-cycle variations.

Laser Ignition of Natural Gas Engines Using Fiber Delivery

A practical impediment to implementation of laser ignition systems has been the open-path beam delivery used in past research. In this contribution, we present the development and implementation of a fiber-optically delivery laser spark ignition system. To our knowledge, the work represents the first demonstration of fiber coupled laser ignition (using a remote laser source) of a natural gas engine. A Nd:YAG laser is used as the energy source and a coated hollow fiber is used for beam energy delivery. The system was implemented on a single-cylinder of a Waukesha VGF 18 turbo charged natural gas engine and yielded consistent and reliable ignition. In addition to presenting the design and testing of the fiber delivered laser ignition system, we present initial design concepts for a multiplexer to ignite multiple cylinders using a single laser source, and integrated optical diagnostic approaches to monitor the spark ignition and combustion performance.Copyright