NO_x emission control in si engine by adding Argon inert gas to intake mixture

The present work investigated the effect of adding Argon inert gas to intake air of a spark ignition engine to decrease nitrogen oxides and -improve the performance of the engine. A research engine Ricardo E6 with variable compression was used in the present work. A special test rig has been designed and built at Al-Azhar University, Egypt to admit the argon gas to the intake air of the engine for up to 15% of the intake air. The variables studied included the engine speed, Argon to inlet air ratio, and air to fuel ratio. The results presented here included the combustion pressure, combustion temperature, Exhaust gas temperature, burned mass fraction, heat-release rate, brake power, thermal efficiency, volumetric efficiency, exhaust gas temperature, brake specific fuel consumption and emissions of CO, CO ₂, NO and O₂. The present results show that the addition of Argon gas to the intake air of the gasoline engine leads to decrease nitrogen oxide and also increases the brake power and thermal efficiency of the engine. Mathematical program has been used to obtain the mixture properties and the heat release when the Argon gas is used.