Effects of oxygen enriched combustion on pollution and performance characteristics of a diesel engine

• Published in: Engineering science and technology, an international journal Vol. 19; no. 1; pp. 438 - 443
• Main Authors: Baskar, P., Senthilkumar, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.03.2016; Elsevier
• Subjects: Combustion; Diesel engine; Emission; Oxygen enrichment; Oxygen enrichment; Emission; Diesel engine; Combustion; Performance
• ISSN: 2215-0986; 2215-0986
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jestch.2015.08.011

Oxygen enriched combustion is one of the attractive combustion technologies to control pollution and improve combustion in diesel engines. An experimental test was conducted on a single cylinder direct injection diesel engine to study the impact of oxygen enrichment on pollution and performance parameters by increasing the oxygen concentration of intake air from 21 to 27% by volume. The tests results show that the combustion process was improved as there is an increase in thermal efficiency of 4 to 8 percent and decrease in brake specific fuel consumption of 5 to 12 percent. There is also a substantial decrease in unburned hydro carbon, carbon mono-oxide and smoke density levels to the maximum of 40, 55 and 60 percent respectively. However, there is a considerable increase in nitrogen oxide emissions due to increased combustion temperature and extra oxygen available which needs to be addressed.