Resumen

LAPUERTA, Magín; ARMAS, Octavio; AGUDELO, John R  y  AGUDELO, Andrés F. Study of Altitude Effect on Internal Combustion Engines Operation. Part 2: Diesel Engines. Inf. tecnol. [online]. 2006, vol.17, n.5, pp.31-41. ISSN 0718-0764.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0718-07642006000500006.

This study analyzes the effect of altitude on characteristic combustion parameters and on the formation of nitrogen oxides (NOx) in diesel engines. Natural aspiration and turbocharged engines with various turbocharging levels were studied. The composition of atmospheric air changes with increases in altitude, and decreases in density due to the decrease in barometric pressure. This affects the stoichiometric mass  ratio between air and fuel , modifying the mixing process.   It was found that the variations observed on combustion development for turbocharged engines are almost imperceptible. It was also shown that there was a reduction of NOx emissions with increasing altitude, primarily due to the decrease in adiabatic combustion temperature.

Palabras clave : diesel engines; altitude effects; combustion; NOx formation.