Numerical simulation on lean-burn characteristics of a naturally aspirated opposed rotary piston engine fuelled with hydrogen at wide open throttle conditions

Opposed rotary piston engines are characterized by high power density, which makes them as an ideal power source for hybrid vehicles and range extended electric vehicles. Hydrogen applications can fully exhibit the merits of opposed rotary piston engines, and achieve zero carbon dioxide emissions; however, the applications seriously worsen the nitrogen oxides emissions. In this investigation, lean-burn was adopted to achieve low nitrogen oxides emissions using a three dimensional numerical simulation approach. The results indicated that engine speed of 3000 r/min presented the highest in-cylinder pressure during combustion among the given scenarios, and the pressure over 3000 r/min depended more on the equivalence ratio than that of 1000 r/min and 2000 r/min. Heat release rates were very sensitive to low equivalence ratio. Combustion duration over the equivalence ratio of 0.8 was the shortest among 1000 r/min cases; however, it decreased with equivalence ratio for 2000 r/min and 3000 r/min. Heat loss rates through cylinder walls increased significantly with engine speed, meanwhile they were more dependent on the equivalence ratio over higher engine speed. Maximum nitrogen monoxide formation rates over 3000 r/min occurred slightly earlier than those of 1000 r/min and 2000 r/min. Equivalence ratio of 0.8 showed the highest indicated thermal efficiency over corresponding engine speed, and nitrogen dioxide emission factors were quite low over the equivalence ratio of 0.7 for the given engine speed. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Opposed rotary piston engines have high power density and can be used as an ideal power source for hybrid vehicles and range extended electric vehicles. Hydrogen applications can demonstrate the advantages of these engines but worsen nitrogen oxides emissions. Lean-burn was adopted in this investigation to achieve low nitrogen oxides emissions, with results showing that engine speed of 3000 r/min had the highest in-cylinder pressure during combustion and significant increase in heat loss rates through cylinder walls with engine speed.