Combustion modelling of a dual fuel diesel - producer gas compression ignition engine

A thermodynamic tool for a dual fuel engine combustion simulation is presented in this work. The modelling represents an initial approach which aims at defining the performance of a single-cylinder diesel engine modified to work under dual fuel conditions and fuelled with producer gas as a gaseous fuel. The tool is based on the application of the first law of thermodynamics to closed systems. A novel approach using a triple Wiebe function has been implemented to describe and predict the heat release rate of dual fuel combustion; ignition delay has also been modelled with a methodology derived from the application of Prakash delay time model. Validation of the proposed combustion model has been realized according to experimental data already present in the recent scientific literature production. The calibrated model has been applied to the UNIBZ energy system set-up in order to predict its main performance characteristics; a future experimental campaign will be carried out to validate the predicted trends. (C) 2107 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.