Cost-Effective Reciprocating Engine Emissions Control and Monitoring for E&P Field and Gathering Engines: Report 6 Page: 8 of 10
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Cost-Effective Engine Emissions Control
temperature, thereby lowering the NO, formation rate. The ultimate result is reduced NO,
emissions. The pre-combustion chamber also provides a quicker ignition response to the main
mixture that then leads to more complete combustion.
When the pre-combustion chamber is coupled with a lean fuel-air mixture, the entire system
comprises a low emission combustion system (LEC). These systems have been found to reduce
NOx emissions anywhere from 86% to 93%. However, these systems usually include some
means to increase the air that is trapped inside the cylinder while the fuel flow rate is held
constant. Therefore, the power output from the engine remains relatively constant and the NOx
emissions reduce.
The research team plans to investigate several types of pre-combustion chambers and the
location of the pre-combustion chamber within the cylinder head. As stated above, the purchased
Ajax DP-115 has an old style cylinder head. The difference between the older and current style
heads is the ability to install a pre-combustion chamber that was specifically designed by Ajax
for the Ajax engines. The new style head contains an extra port to install the pre-combustion
chamber. A pre-combustion chamber "kit" is available from Cooper Compression (Ajax is a
division of Cooper Compression) and other aftermarket companies. Some of these technologies
screw into the existing spark plug hole, while others require the installation of the new style
head.
High Energy Ignition System (HEIS)
A high energy ignition system (HEIS) uses a high voltage to generate a spark in the combustion
chamber. A high ignition system will create a larger spark. This larger spark will aid in the
combustion process to help burn the leaner mixture. This concept works on the same principle as
the pre-combustion chamber in that the goal is to ignite a lean air-fuel mixture. There are two
types of ignition systems: capacitance discharge and inductive. The capacitance discharge can, in
some cases, be used to spark more than once during the ignition phase. The benefit of the
inductive system is that the spark duration can be controlled. The research team plans to
investigate the potential of these two technologies. As with the pre-combustion chamber, these
particular systems should be coupled with a lean air-fuel mixture to produce a low emissions
combustion system. Since in this case the pre-combustion chamber itself is not present and
therefore contributing to the NOx emissions, the overall emissions from the high energy ignition
system should be lower than the system with the pre-combustion chamber. However, data that
demonstrates this reduction is not readily available.
Turbocharger
A turbocharger increases the air-fuel ratio, which then creates a lean air-fuel mixture inside the
combustion cylinder. As discussed above, leaning the mixture reduces the peak cylinder
temperature and lowers NO, emissions. Turbocharged engines can reduce emissions of NO, up
to 40 percent by air-fuel ratio increases4 without creating a mixture that is lean enough to require
an upgraded ignition system. In the event that turbocharging is used to create a lean air and fuel
mixture, a pre-combustion chamber can be added to achieve emission reductions up to 93%. In
4Response to Comments Phase II NOx SIP Call Rulemaking, Contract No. 68-D-00-2 83, Work
Assignment No. 3-50 Jo Ann Allman EPA.4
DE-FC26-02NT15464
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Chapman, Kirby S. & Adriani, Allen. Cost-Effective Reciprocating Engine Emissions Control and Monitoring for E&P Field and Gathering Engines: Report 6, report, August 1, 2004; United States. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc873542/m1/8/?rotate=270: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.