Progress in Catalytic Ignition Fabrication, Modeling and Infrastructure
Project Title
Progress in Catalytic Ignition Fabrication, Modeling and Infrastructure
University
University of Idaho
Principal Investigator
Judith Steciak, Steven Beyerlein, Ralph Budwig, Dan Cordon, David McIlroy
U of I Mechanical Engineering
David N. McIlroy, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Physics
PI Contact Information
Funding Sources and Amounts Provided
US Department of Transportation — $70,936
M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust — $292,000
Total Project Cost
$362,936
Agency ID or Contract Number
DTRT12GUTC17 UI-KLK907
Start Date
1/1/12
End Date
2/28/14
Description of Research Project
During this 1.5 year project, in our engine laboratory we will continue our development of tunable igniters. In our combustion laboratory we will use our plug-flow reactors to test fuel oxidation on high surface area nanospring Pt catalysts, obtain light-off temperatures of methane on Pt and use a detailed surface mechanism to model methane oxidation on Pt. We will also establish a method for measuring the temperature coefficient of thermal resistance for the nanospring Pt catalyst. We will move our Small Engine Laboratory into new facilities and install/test our new fuel flowmeters and exhaust emission analysis system. We will continue to seek funding to design a new instrumented cylinder head for our Cooperative Fuel Research (CFR) engine that will permit tests at compression ratios up to 20:1. We will continue to make our laboratories available to other researchers and instructors in the Center for Clean Vehicle Technology.
Outcomes of this work will include:
- the ability to obtain light-off temperatures and heat generation rates of fuel on a novel nanospring Pt catalyst;
- a tunable CPT for multi-fuel engines; and
- infrastructure improvements that enhance our competitiveness in state and federal funding programs.
Implementation of Research Outcomes
Progress was made in measuring the temperature coefficient of thermal resistance (α(T)). Thermal shielding improved results at high temperatures. Convective mixing improved low temperature results. The temperature coefficient of thermal resistance is needed to measure the catalyst temperature at which surface reactions initiate. Preliminary measurements with catalyst nanosprings structures (platinum-coated silicon nanosprings grown on tungsten) suggest that the properties of the tungsten substrate significantly influence α(T) measurements.
Construction was completed and we moved our Small Engine Laboratory into the new facilities. The eddy current dynamometer, fuel measurement system, and emissions analysis equipment have been operational since early Spring 2013. The water-brake dynamometers are operational using infrastructure from the eddy current test cell, but we are waiting for future funding to purchase the components necessary to get the water-brake system functional in its own test cell. The CFR engine has been moved to the new laboratory, and its development will be pursued once the water-brake cell is operational and additional funding is found for a graduate student.
A key element of CPT tuning is an accurate in-cylinder heat release and emissions formation model that can be used in conjunction with student training in the engine test cells.
Impacts and Benefits of the Project
A presentation detailing the latest results on measuring the coefficient of thermal resistance was made at the May 2013 national meeting of the Combustion Institute.
The new engine research facilities provides more space for research, new instrumentation, and student vehicle competition projects. This laboratory space has been used extensively by the Clean Snowmobile Challenge Team and the Formula Hybrid team.
A first generation in-cylinder heat release model for a one-cylinder Yamaha YZ250F engine was piloted with ME433 students in Summer 2013. Students were able to estimate optimal ignition timings, performance maps, and emissions maps that compared more favorably to experimental data than in previous course offerings.
Paper
- Quinn, C., Steciak, J., Budwig, R., Beyerlein, S., “Measuring the Coefficient of Thermal Resistance of Nanospring Combustion Catalysts,” ASME Publication IMECE13-64912, 2013.
Web Links
Final Report: UI_TranLIVE_Final Report_CombinedPart1_Part2_ProgressCatalyticIgnition
- Part 1: Catalytic Ignition Studies
- Part 2: Development of a Multi-zone Engine Model Simulated using MATLAB Software
Keywords
- emissions
- fuel measurement system
- combustion catalyst
- fuel-lean combustion
- engine heat release
- infrastructure
- catalytic ignition