Abstract
A direct-injection spark-ignition engine was investigated for deposit formation after running on syngas. The study was part of an initiative to substitute fossil derived gaseous fuels with syngas. The fuel injector and spark plug were periodically inspected during the shutdown and the preliminary inspection indicated traces of deposits. As a result, the cylinder head was dismantled and inspected thoroughly after the run. The surface morphology was characterized by FESEM and its elemental contents were evaluated by EDX. Among the components, the spark plug was found to be best suitable for scanning in FESEM and EDX. Tests were conducted on the sides with and without deposit of the spark plug. The results from both sides were compared. No feed marks were formed even at higher magnification at the clean side. However, the side with deposit of the spark plug shows a spongy texture foreign material. Besides, the colour and morphology was different at different locations. Chemical composition was evaluated on atomic and weight percentage. The deposit was found to be iron oxide produced from the decomposition of iron pentacarbonyl contaminant from the storage tank as the result of carbon monoxide reaction with metallic wall of the tank at high pressure storage.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
- CNG:
-
compressed natural gas
- DI:
-
direct-injection
- ECU:
-
engine control unit
- EDX:
-
energy dispersive x-ray
- Fe(CO)5 :
-
Iron pentacarbonyl
- FESEM:
-
field emission scanning electron microscopy
- Ni(CO)4 :
-
nickel tetracarbonyl
- SCAM:
-
Self Corroleting Aperture Microscopy
- SI:
-
spark-ignition
References
Abdullah, M. A. and Aziz, A. R. A. (2009). An experimental investigation of hydrogen combustion in a direct injection spark ignition natural gas engine. SAE Paper No. 2009-01-1499.
Anon (1986). Wood gas as engine fuel. FAO Forestry Paper, 72, 133.
Basu, P. (2010). Biomass Gasification and Pyrolysis: Practical Design and Theory. Elsevier. USA.
Decker, K. D. (2010). Wood Gas Vehicles: Firewood in the Fuel Tank [Online]. Barcelona, Spain. Available: http://www.lowtechmagazine.com/2010/01/wood-gas-cars.html
Firmansyah (2007). Optimization of Injection Parameters in Compressed Natural Gas Direct Injection Spark Ignition Engine. Ms. Thesis. Universiti Teknologi Petronas.
Hagos, F. Y. (2013). Combustion, Performance and Emissions Characteristics of Imitated Syngases in Directinjection Spark-igntion Engine. Ph. D. Dissertation. Universiti Teknologi Petronas.
Hagos, F. Y. and Aziz, A. R. A. (2014). Mass fraction burn investigation of lean burn low BTU gasification gas in direct-injection spark-ignition engine. SAE Paper No. 2014-01-1336.
Hagos, F. Y., Aziz, A. R. A. and Sulaiman, S. A. (2013). Combustion characteristics of direct-injection sparkignition engine fuelled with producer gas. Energy Education Science and Technology Part A: Energy Science and Research 31, 3.
Hagos, F. Y., Aziz, A. R. A. and Sulaiman, S. A. (2014). Syngas (H2/CO) in a spark-ignition direct-injection engine. Part 1: Combustion, performance and emissions comparison with CNG. Int. J. Hydrogen Energ., 39, 17884–17895.
John, C. (2001). Formation Mechanisms of Combustion Chamber Deposits. Ph. D. Dissertation. Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Jr., W. H. D., Ebert, L. B., Dennerlein, J. D. and Mills, D. R. (1985). Extraction, Mass Spectroscopy and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance. Chemistry of Engine Combustion Deposits. Springer. USA.
Leung, B. (2011). Surface Analysis and Materials Characterization Laboratory [Online]. Hong Kong Baptist University. Available: sml.hkbu.edu.hk/fesem.htm [Accessed May 28, 2013 2013]
Lieuwen, T., Yang, V. and Yetter, R. (edn) (2010). Synthesis Gas Combustion: Fundamentals and Applications. Taylor & Francis Group. New York.
Mohammed, S. E., Baharom, M. B., Aziz, A. R. A. and Firmansyah(2011). The effects of fuel-injection timing at medium injection pressure on the engine characteristics and emissions of a CNG-DI engine fueled by a small amount of hydrogen in CNG. Int. J. Hydrogen Energ 36, 18, 11997–12006.
Mohammed, S. E. L., Baharom, M. B. and Aziz, A. R. A. (2011). Analysis of engine characteristics and emissions fueled by in-situ mixing of small amount of hydrogen in CNG. Int. J. Hydrogen Energ. 36, 6, 4029–4037.
Reed, M. G., Wilson, T., Juskaitis, R. and Neil, M. A. A. (1998). Surface profiling of combustion chamber deposits using aperture correlation confocal microscopy. J. Microscopy 189, 3, 188–191.
Richards, G. A. and Casleton, K. H. (2010). Gasification Technology to Produce Synthesis Gas. Lieuwen, T., Yang, V. & Yetter, R. (edn.) Synthesis Gas Combustion Fundamentals and Applications. CRC Press Taylor and Francis Group. New York.
Richards, G. A., Casleton, K. H. and Weiland, N. T. (2010). Syngas Utilization. Lieuwen, T., Yang, V. & Yetter, R. (edn) Synthesis Gas Combustion Fundamentals and Application. Taylor and Francis. Boca Raton.
Ry, S. E. (n.d.). Puukaasun Historiaa. Available: http://www.ekoautoilijat.fi/tekstit/historiaa.htm [Accessed November 17, 2012]
Shu, G., Dong, L. and Liang, X. (2012). A review of experimental studies on deposits in the combustion chambers of internal combustion engines. Int. J. Engine Research 13, 4, 357–369.
Williams, T. C. and Shaddix, C. R. (2007). Contamination of carbon monoxide with metal carbonyl: implications for combustion research. Combust. Sci. Techno., 179, 1225–1230.
Wyse, C., Vininski, J. and Watanabe, T. (2002). Cylinder, purifier technologies for controlling contamination in CO. Solid State Technology 45, 7, 125–129.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hagos, F.Y., Aziz, A.R.A. & Sulaiman, S.A. Investigation of deposit formation in direct-injection spark-ignition engine powered on syngas. Int.J Automot. Technol. 16, 479–485 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12239-015-0050-1
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12239-015-0050-1