The impact of nitric oxide on knock in the octane rating engine

Abstract

Nitric oxide (NO) is a trace species that is always present in reciprocating engines, and can significantly affect fuel autoignition. This work presents a systematic investigation of the impact of NO on fuel autoignition in a standard, octane rating engine. Knock onset timing is investigated over a wide range of equivalence ratios, intake temperatures, and fuel compositions with increasing levels of NO added via the engine intake. NO is observed to both promote and retard autoignition in different cases. In particular, NO added via the engine intake can often promote autoignition when the engine is operated at sufficiently rich conditions such that there is negligible, combustion-induced res..