Author : M. A. Shaikh and Aditya H. Shukla

CNG is one of the most feasible and accessible option as a replacement of conventional fuels likes Gasoline and Diesel nowadays. But major problem of using it as fuel for automotive purpose is reduced engine performance in terms of power and torque. Out of some parameters that may overcome this deficiency, swirl motions of charge in cylinder is emphasized in this study to enhance the performance of engine and so to negotiate mentioned difficulty. The component that prepares the charge by mixing CNG with air must be the primary source that imparts the swirling motion and so optimization of CNG Mixer design considering various factors is carried out. In majority of studies Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is used to simulate Mixer design. The main objective of this study is to guide how optimum design can be obtained which has highest tendency of producing swirl motion and testing that Mixer experimentally, the performance of engine is recorded. Thus by varying swirl intensity the enhancement in engine performance is obtained. This study is thus helpful to design Mixer and shows path if possibility of further modification in design exists.

Keywords: Compressed natural gas, Computational fluid dynamics, Mixer, Swirl and Tumble motion.

Article published in International Journal of Current Engineering and Technology, Vol.6, No.5 (Oct-2016)