Optimization of Single-Cylinder Compressed Air Engine Equipped with Prechamber

In some last decades, increasing air pollution and its consequences captivate attention of researchers from all over the world. Scientists have developed some alternate fuels to eliminate the exhaust pollutants. In this paper, idea of using compressed air as a power source in natural gas engines is presented and discussed to explore the concept of new energy vehicles. However, energy densityof air and output torque of compressed air engine (CAE) is limited, which confines its application and popularization. The present research on compressed air engine mainly focused on simulation and system integration. The air engine equipped with prechamber which works as a heating device for inlet air. Prechamber pressure rise, total heat release and maximum jet velocity all increases with increasing prechamber fuel mass fraction delivered into prechamber. An in-house model of air engine equipped with prechamber has been developed using the DIESEL-RK platform. Through analysis it can be obtained that optimization of single cylinder CAE showed positive slope towards efficiency and eliminate NOX emission to almost zero. Furthermore, this study revealed that the idea of using prechamber with CAE provide theoretical support to researchers in development of zeroemission vehicles and to make the technology more feasible.