Modeling of Formaldehyde Formation From Crevices in a Large Bore Natural Gas Engine

Formaldehyde emissions from stationary natural gas engines are regulated in the United States, as mandated by the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments. This work aims to advance the understanding of formaldehyde formation in large bore (>36 cm) natural gas engines. Formaldehyde formation in a large bore natural gas engine is modeled utilizing computational fluid dynamics and chemical kinetics. The top land crevice volume is believed to play an important role in the formation mechanisms of engine-out formaldehyde. This work focuses specifically on the top land crevice volume in the Cooper-Bessemer LSVB large bore 4-stroke cycle natural gas engine. Chemical kinetic modeling predicts that the top land crevice volume is responsible for the formation of 22 ppm of engine-out formaldehyde. Based on a raw exhaust concentration of 80 ppm, this constitutes about 27% of engine-out formaldehyde. Simplifying assumptions made for the chemical kinetic modeling are validated using computational fluid dynamics. Computational fluid dynamic analysis provided confirmation of crevice volume mass discharge timing. It also provided detailed pressure, temperature and velocity profiles within the top land crevice volume at various crank angle degrees.