Zero-dimensional modelling of a producer gas-based reciprocating engine

Abstract: A zero-dimensional modelling study has been conducted using wrinkled flame theory for flame propagation to understand the in-cylinder pressure behaviour with time in a reciprocat-ing internal combustion engine. These are compared with experiments conducted on the engine operated on biomass derived from producer gas and air mixture. The required inputs on the laminar burning velocity and turbulence parameters are obtained from separate studies. The data related to laminar burning velocity for producer gas and air mixture at thermodynamic con-ditions typical of unburned mixture in an engine cylinder were obtained from one-dimensional flame calculations. The turbulence parameters were obtained by conducting a three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics study on a bowl-in-piston geometry to simulate motored or non-firing conditions. The above mentioned data were used in the zero-dimensional model to make pressure–time (p–u) computation over the complete engine cycle, for a range of test cases at varying compression ratio (CR) and ignition timing. The computational results matched reasonably well with experimental p–u curves at advanced ignition timing at all CRs. The error in computed indicated power (IP) at advanced ignition setting (188–278 CA) is around 3–4 per cent for CR 17.0 and 11.5, and between 6 and 9 per cent for CR 13.5. However, at less advance