Investigation of Subterranean Fuel Vapor Extraction and Destruction Using a Diesel Engine

摘要

The objective of this project was to determine the feasibility of using a diesel engine as a means of fuel vapor extraction and destruction at underground contamination sites. The first priority was to determine if fuel vapors introduced into the engine via the intake air stream could be burned satisfactorily. An engine operated in this manner functions similar to a dual- fuel natural gas/diesel unit, using liquid fuel as a pilot to ignite the gas-air mixture. A major concern with this concept is the possibility that fuel vapors pre-mixed with the intake air may be prone to detonation in a high compression diesel engine, therefore causing destructive knock. Another concern is whether the engine will run properly without using an excessive amount of supplemental liquid fuel, which then reduces the vapor extraction capability and overall efficiency of the system. Therefore, the main focus of this initial test phase was on combustion performance and pilot fuel requirements versus gaseous fuel consumption.