A Procedure for Calculating Fuel Gas Blend Knock Rating for Large-Bore Gas Engines and Predicting Engine Operation

This paper describes the procedure developed by Cooper-Bessemer for large-bore gas engines to calculate the knock rating of gas fuel blends and to predict with accuracy the required engine build to use that fuel with optimum detonation margin. Engine prototype test work has included fuel sensitivity tests mapped as a function of compression ratio, fuel air ratio, ignition advance, combustion air temperature, and engine rating. Success in predicting production engine operation for a given application involving a particular fuel blend has been gratifying. The basic reference method blend selected was normal butane in methane. Details are included in the paper to illustrate the problems in making sensitivity correlations between small-bore fuel research engines and large-bore production engines.