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Diesel Engines with EGR

In the article Journal of Combustion the authors argues how EGR system help meet
the regulations of the exhaust gas from diesel engines. For the individuals who are new to diesel
engines, and wondering what is an EGR system. Let this be an opportunity to further educated,
and help determined a future choice of the EGR system. Exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) can be
found on light duty diesel engines and heavy duty diesel engines as well. The mechanism of
EGR system reducing NOx emissions is introducing parts of the exhaust gas into the combustion
chamber to increase the heat capacity of gases, lower the temperature of burning gases, and thus
reduce the NOx emission. (Deqing, Mei pg. 1) The reduction of NOx, (Nitrogen Oxide), is the
most common reason for applying the EGR emissions system to the commercial diesel engines,
this emission system does have a few other purposes as well. For instance, it will reduce the need
for high load fuel enrichment, aids vaporization of liquid fuels, and improves the ignition system.
The harmful exhaust gas has become a problem with todays atmosphere, due to the fact of the
high thermal efficiency in the diesel engine causing a mass pollution of exhaust gas. This is
where the EGR has an important role in the elimination of exhaust gas, since there is a high
preference of direct injection engines for commercial vehicles.
In order to determine the effectiveness of the EGR emission system, there had to be trial runs
perform on the diesel engine. For example, in order to measure the amount of NOx released,
through exhaust gas, in the atmosphere, is determined by using a chemiluminescent analyzer.
This analyzer is just one of many instruments used in the procedure of determining if the EGR is
efficient enough to help minimize the pollution in the atmosphere.
The EGR emissions are made up of a few components known as the valve system. The valve
system is made up of a spring membrane, vacuum reservoir controlled device, and a valve
controller. Without these three components the EGR will not be able to function properly and
probably cause some engine failure or loss of horsepower. The EGR rate is determined by the
volumetric percentage of CO2 in the intake and exhaust system. The adjusting of the EGR valve
will determined the flow characteristics of the recirculated exhaust gas. According to the,

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Journal of combustion, to achieve an optional control of combustion and emission a reasonable

EGR rate valve should be determined accordingly to the various operating conditions.
For instance, shortening of ignition delay, reduction of released heat, and decrease oxygen
concentration of intake; all play an important role in reducing the NOx in the cylinder. After
performing many procedures, and finally concluding that in order to not deteriorate the engine
performance, the valve of the EGR should remain lower at high and medium loads and increase
moderately at low loads.
The EGR major purpose is to be able to eliminate some smoke opacity. Smoke opacity is
basically the degree in which visibility of a background (i.e., blue sky) is eliminated by the
exhaust smoke released. Many diesel engine owners believe that introducing exhaust gas to the
intake should lower the oxygen concentration, which should cause an increase of the smoke
opacity change dramatically. As further analysis were made the final results determined is that as
the EGR increased, so did the smoke opacity, also allowing the exhaust gas to deteriorate
precisely. According to Journal of Combustion, Figure 7(A), shows how the smoke
opacity changed with EGR rate at different loads at 1800rmp engine speed. Therefore, when at
low loads the air excess was wasted, causing the deterioration of the exhaust gas to decline as
well, causing the valve EGR rate to be limited to high loads. The major question is permitted to
CO (carbon monoxide) and how the results came out. CO is generated from the chamret reaction
in in the combustion chamber. With the recirculated exhaust gas, the combustion temperature
and oxygen-temperature in the cylinder declining causing CO to increase. As I mentioned earlier
the EGR is involved in the ignition delay of the diesel engine. The HC (Hydrocarbon), is related
to the cause of the ignition delay. In order for the EGR to benefit the ignition system the valves
in the valve train will have to be adjusted correctly. The HC (high hydrocarbon), emission has
accumulated from the small mixtures that cannot be ignited during the ignition process. This
process is also known as the incomplete combustion. The determination of the decreased ratio of
HC and CO is volumetric concentration, together they would outweigh the increased EGR
rate. After researching the EGR system, it is not hard to determine the importance of an EGR
emission. Analyzing the EGR system tend to be complex for someone who is not up to speed on

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the diesel engine and the importance of controlling the exhaust gas that is released. Most people
today tend to delete their EGR from their commercial vehicles, causing the exhaust gas to be
released into the atmosphere. It is said to believe that the whole process of the EGR is a major
impact on the horsepower of the diesel engine. Which in my opinion without the intake
of fresh air, the whole process of the diesel engine is determined by how much fresh is taking in.
Without the fresh air coming in through the intake determines how hard the engine has to work
in order to reach the combustion step in the piston.
So as not to deteriorate the engine performance, the value of EGR rate should remain lower
at high and medium loads and increase moderately at low loads. (Deqing, Mei pg. 4) The
authors have strong reasoning to make an individual believe EGR system is beneficial to the
diesel engine. I believe the EGR should be focused more on the heavy duty truck and less on the
lighter duty trucks. As for me, I would rather be without an EGR system, due to the fact that the
EGR emission is only reliable at a constant speed and load. Now, if there was not a constant
change in the working load the EGR would work perfect, leaving the atmosphere with the
cleaner exhaust gas. With my knowledge of the EGR system, I can come to the assumption that
this system would only cause the engine to fail by losing horsepower and not being able to
perform its duty correctly. With the constant change to the diesel engine it will be a matter of
time when a new system is produced to replace the EGR emission. There are many other
opinions on how the EGR works and the benefits of using the EGR emission system. The
choice on whether the EGR emission system is a good choice for the work being performed. As
for controlling the pollution being released into the atmosphere, the EGR emission system will
be a big benefit, but there is a chance that the EGR emission system can cause engine
malfunctions, creating a different problem.