Date of Award
12-2010
Degree Name
Master of Science in Engineering
Department
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
First Advisor
Dr. Bade Shrestha
Second Advisor
Dr. Christopher Cho
Third Advisor
Dr. Claudia Fajardo-Hansford
Access Setting
Masters Thesis-Campus Only
Abstract
Computer simulations were performed using KIVA-4 code to determine performance of a spark ignited engine fueled by methane diluted with carbon dioxide to approximate landfill gas as a fuel. Engine performance was simulated for various operating conditions including compression ratio, equivalence ratio, spark timing, and fuel composition. It was found that increasing the compression ratio with increasing carbon dioxide content in the fuel increases efficiency above that for pure methane fuel.
Constant-volume combustion duration was also simulated for operating conditions at various initial temperatures, initial pressures, cylinder diameters, fuel compositions, and equivalence ratios. A relationship is found between combustion duration for methane fuel and combustion duration for methane diluted with any percentage of carbon dioxide at each operating condition. The relationship is extended and a set of equations presented which can be used to predict combustion duration changes for varying fuel composition.
Recommended Citation
Swain, Daniel P., "Simulation of Landfill Gas Performance in a Spark Ignited Engine" (2010). Masters Theses. 380.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/380