COMBUSTION IN A DIESEL ENGINE

PROCESS: Fuel (diesel) and air are mixed and burnt inside a diesel engine. The resulting energy is then converted into mechanical energy. For any type of combustion it is important to mix fuel and air in the correct ratio. Adequate air will ensure complete combustion of the diesel, and this will provide optimum amount of heat energy. Providing less than adequate air would mean, starving the fuel of proper air (oxygen) thus resulting into incomplete burning of diesel, and also production of CO, or carbon monoxide.

A diesel engine also has a working point. Working point of an engine is the point at which the engine is most stable, and works at optimum efficiency. At this point, the NOx emissions are minimum. In an engine, as the wear and tear increases, the NOx emission levels also increase. Monitoring the NOx emissions gives an indication of wear and tear on the engine.

MEASUREMENT: measuring O2 & CO, to know whether combustion is efficient, and measuring NO & NO2, to know the wear and tear on the engine.

SOLUTION: the most ideal solution for this measurement is the testo 340, with 4 sensors, O2, CO, NO, and NO2, and a 335 mm engine probe, with sintered filter, and an operating temperature of max 1000 deg C.

Diesel Engine Exhaust Gas Analyzer Sensors