Abstract
Although numerous studies have investigated the effect of EGR on engine combustion, no study has investigated the effect of each recirculated species separately on the engine emissions and combustion. This study investigated the effects of different components of the recirculated exhaust gas on the emission formation during lean homogeneous combustion. Due to lean combustion, O(2), N(2), CO(2), and H(2)O are the main components of the exhaust gases. In addition, CO is also produced by the lean homogeneous combustion, which caused the chamber temperature to be low. The combustion chamber is simulated using a thermodynamic model and a quasi-developed chemical kinetic mechanism. The amount of added EGR is 0-40% by volume, and its various effects are investigated using the artificial inert species method. The basic results are validated against experimental data for different initial conditions. According to the results, N(2) due to its higher mass fraction and H(2)O due to its higher heat capacity have the highest thermal effect. H(2)O has the maximum thermal effect, and N(2) has the maximum dilution effect on thermal efficiency. The thermal effect of O(2) differs from those of the other species. All three effects of EGR reduce UHC. However, there is no regular trend for CO. H(2)O and CO have increasing chemical effects, and O(2) and other free radicals have reducing chemical effects on CO. H(2)O has the most thermal effect, O(2) has the most chemical effect, and N(2) has the most dilution effect on reducing UHC.