Ozone-Assisted Combustion—Part I: Literature Review and Kinetic Study Using Detailed n-Heptane Kinetic Mechanism

Abstract

In this first paper, the authors undertake a review of the literature in the field of ozone-assisted combustion in order to summarize literature findings. The use of a detailed n-heptane combustion model including ozone kinetics helps analyze these earlier results and leads into experimentation within the authors' laboratory using a single-cylinder, direct-injection compression ignition engine, briefly discussed here and in more depth in a following paper. The literature and kinetic modeling outcomes indicate that the addition of ozone leads to a decrease in ignition delay, both in comparison to no added ozone and with a decreasing equivalence ratio. This ignition delay decrease as the mixture leans is counter to the traditional increase in ignition delay with decreasing equivalence ratio. Moreover, the inclusion of ozone results in slightly higher temperatures in the cylinder due to ozone decomposition, augmented production of nitrogen oxides, and reduction in particulate matter through radial atomic oxygen chemistry. Of additional importance, acetylene levels decrease but carbon monoxide emissions are found to both increase and decrease as a function of equivalence ratio. This work illustrates that, beyond a certain level of assistance (approximately 20 ppm for the compression ratio of the authors' engine), adding more ozone has a negligible influence on combustion and emissions. This occurs because the introduction of O3 into the intake causes a temperature-limited equilibrium set of reactions via the atomic oxygen radical produced.