Research and Simulation of Natural Gas as Locomotive Engines´ Fuel

To resolve the problems of oil resource deficiency and locomotive engines´ pollution, we try to seek substitutes. Analyzing several possible alternative fuels, the article find the most suitable alternative fuel is natural gas. Calculate the performance and emissions of the locomotive engines burning natural gas by using numerical simulation method. Results demonstrate that burn natural gas almost meet the requirements of power and torque, and NOx emissions could be effectively improved. With the ignition time delay, the peak combustion pressure drops, the time to peak also delays; the maximum rate of pressure rise with the ignition delay time decreases; torque output dropped obviously with the ignite time advance; CO emissions get to a minimum value at a certain ignition time. All the simulation results are from the rate speed and full load, the results have certain limitation.