pat and wildbill thanks for visiting my site and reading over the paper, I am glad it is spreading as it is input from others that really improves it as time goes by.
To clear up what wildbill may have been getting at is I believe in reference first to Sir Ricardo's work showing increased BMEP with water injection (with reduced maximum pressure) and second to Harris' and my reference to the work of Glassman (Combustion, 3rd ed.). These two actually serve to support each other.
Glassman goes through each step of the chemical process behind hydrocarbon combustion. The part I find compelling and actually finely cleared up in my mind exactly why water injection works is based on Glassman's "wet method" for the improved oxidation of CO => CO2 plus his conclusion that the presence of excess hydrocarbons (overly rich settings frequently tuned in turbo applications) inhibits the oxidation of CO2.
This part has not made it to my paper yet and I think Harris in being brief missed to communicate an important item:
"... thus one can conclude - correctly - that hydrocarbons inhibit the oxidation of CO.
It is apparent that in any hydrocarbon oxidation process CO is the primary product and forms in substantial amounts. However, substantial experimental evidence indicates the oxidation of CO to CO2 comes late in the reaction scheme. The conversion to CO2 is retarded until all the original fuel and intermediate hydrocarbon fragments have been consumed."
*Combustion, Third Edition, Glassman, p. 76
While water injection provides additional reactants for Glassman's wet method of CO oxidation. Through the following reaction:
"CO + OH ==> CO2 + H
H + OH ==> H20
H2O + O ==> H2O2
H2O2 ==> OH + OH"
*Harris' EFI note - not exactly in the form that Glassman presents but close and not being an engineer probably equivalent.
According to the chemical properties a majority of the energy released from hydrocarbon combustion is this oxidation of CO, which happens to be a slow and late reaction in the process. The presence of additional water encourages this process and meaning that the reaction occurs more frequently per unit of time. From a layman's point of view and from the view of actually matters in the combustion in a motor - these more frequently occuring reactions result in the inference of increased power. This is because it occurs late (around the time of BMEP) and releases more energy than any other reaction before hand.
When you consider the implications of Glassman's work, then Sir Ricardo's results are more easily understood. WI is causing more reactions to occur right when you need them too late in combustion just ATDC at BMEP.
From a power output view - the result wildbill refers to is observable.
From an equilibrium reaction view - there is no more total energy released as a result of water injection than without. (Though there is more energy released from a 12-13 AFR than there is from say a 10-11 AFR that some turbo tuners using fuel to cool the cylinders end up at. This is because significant amounts of CO do not oxidize to CO2 in the cylinder during combustion.)
In the end I guess I would say that the same energy is released, but the most important energy release becomes more concentrated around BMEP.
This is one of those topics I understand in my head - but I am over my head explaining it. I hope this made sense and that others provide any clarity or corrections.
Ed.