Experimental comparative study on combustion, performance and emissions characteristics of methanol, ethanol and butanol in a spark ignition engine

Liu, Yu; Gong, Jinke; Deng, Yuewen; Yuan, Wancheng; Fu, Jun; Zhang, Bin

doi:10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2016.12.037

Cited by 142 publications

(63 citation statements)

References 58 publications

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“…These experimental results are consistent with the results of the analytical model, which predicts NOx reductions that are lower than the variability of the experimental results. Additionally, they agree with results reported by several authors who tested engines varying the ethanol content in the fuel [4,17,18]. …”

Section: Nox Emission Indexsupporting

confidence: 82%

The Effect of Using Ethanol-Gasoline Blends on the Mechanical, Energy and Environmental Performance of In-Use Vehicles

et al. 2018

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Abstract:The use of ethanol in gasoline has become a worldwide tendency as an alternative to reduce net CO 2 emissions to the atmosphere, increasing gasoline octane rating and reducing dependence on petroleum products. However, recently environmental authorities in large urban centers have expressed their concerns on the true effect of using ethanol blends of up to 20% v/v in in-use vehicles without any modification in the setup of the engine control unit (ECU), and on the variations of these effects along the years of operation of these vehicles. Their main concern is the potential increase in the emissions of volatile organic compounds with high ozone formation potential. To address these concerns, we developed analytical and experimental work testing engines under steady-conditions. We also tested carbureted and fuel-injected vehicles every 10,000 km during their first 100,000 km of operation. We measured the effect of using ethanol-gasoline blends on the power and torque generated, the fuel consumption and CO 2 , CO, NOx and unburned hydrocarbon emissions, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as acetaldehyde, formaldehyde, benzene and 1,3-butadiene which are considered important ozone precursors. The obtained results showed statistically no significant differences in these variables when vehicles operate with a blend of 20% v/v ethanol and 80% v/v gasoline (E20) instead of gasoline. Those results remained unchanged during the first 100,000 km of operation of the vehicles. We also observed that when the vehicles operated with E20 at high engine loads, they showed a tendency to operate with greater values of λ (ratio of the actual air-fuel ratio to the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio) when compared to their operation with gasoline. According to the Eco-Indicator-99, these results represent a minor reduction (<1.3%) on the impact to human health, and on the deterioration of the ecosystem. However, it implies a 12.9% deterioration of the natural resources. Thermal equilibrium analysis, at the tailpipe conditions (~100 • C), showed that ethane, formaldehyde, ethylene and ethanol are the most relevant VOCs in terms of the amount of mass emitted. The use of ethanol in the gasoline reduced 20-40% of those emissions. These reductions implied an average reduction of 17% in the ozone formation potential.

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Section: Nox Emission Indexsupporting

confidence: 82%

The Effect of Using Ethanol-Gasoline Blends on the Mechanical, Energy and Environmental Performance of In-Use Vehicles

et al. 2018

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“…Poran and Tartakovsky [18] discussed the concept of a direct injection ICE with thermo chemical recuperation realized through steam reforming of methanol. Li et al [19] investigated the combustion characteristics and emission formations of a SI engine fuelled with methanol-ethanolbutanol-gasoline mixtures under various equivalence ratios, engine loads and alcohol ratios. It was seen that methanolgasoline mixtures provide the lowest NOx formation, while ethanol-gasoline mixtures show the lowest HC emissions.…”

Section: Effect Of Water On Micro-emulsion Fuel and Work Done During mentioning

confidence: 99%

Experimental investigation on multi-cylinder SI engine fueled conventional gasoline, ethanol blends, and micro-emulsion as an alternative fuel

Qadiri¹,

Wani²

2019

MMEP

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In this contribution the two alternative fuels, firstly blended fuel of ethanol and gasoline (i.e. E15%+Gasoline 85%), and secondly, micro-emulsion (i.e. Gasoline 90%, E8% and H2O 2%) were compared with conventional 100% Gasoline fuel for checking the performance, combustion, and emission characteristics of 3-Cylinder SI engine experimentally. The blended fuel containing 15% ethanol with 85% gasoline and the micro-emulsion based fuel which contains H2O molecule in addition to simple blending were prepared in the lab, and both the fuels were tested experimentally on a 3-cylinder SI engine based test rig in order to find out which alternative fuel is more efficient in terms of performance and emission characteristics. The results depicted that although both the micro-emulsion based fuel and the blended fuel showed reduction in power as compared to conventional 100% Gasoline fuel, but the emissions were least for the micro-emulsion based fuel followed by the blended fuel. The CO, HC, and NOx emission decreased for both ethanol blended gasoline fuel and the micro-emulsion based fuel as compared to the 100% Gasoline. The injected water in the micro-emulsion fuel reduces the temperature inside the combustion chamber which is responsible for this decrease in NOx emission. For combustion analysis, pressure v/s the crank-angle showed slight decrease for the blended fuel (i.e. 15% ethanol with 85% Gasoline) and the micro-emulsion based fuel (i.e. Gasoline 90%, E8% and H2O 2%) as compared to the conventional 100% gasoline fuel. This can again be attributed to the fact that the micro-emulsion based fuel has a lower combustion chamber temperature compared to the conventional 100% Gasoline.

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“…A review of ethanol/gasoline blends impact on performance and emissions of a spark-ignited engine is given in [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]. In [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26] results are given concerning the use of butanol, either blended with gasoline or as a neat fuel, in a spark-ignited engine. By observing these results, it can generally be concluded that the increase in alcohol content in the blend with gasoline, could have a significant impact on engine performance and efficiency only at high alcohol concentrations, if the air-fuel ratio is to be maintained within the same range of values as for the gasoline operation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several studies have already been performed in order to investigate the use of both types of alcohols in spark-ignited engines, either blended with gasoline [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21] or as a neat fuel [22][23][24][25][26]. A review of ethanol/gasoline blends impact on performance and emissions of a spark-ignited engine is given in [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Theoretical Study of the Effects of Spark Timing on the Performance and Emissions of a Light-Duty Spark Ignited Engine Running under Either Gasoline or Ethanol or Butanol Fuel Operating Modes

Papagiannakis

Rakopoulos

2017

Energies

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Much research is ongoing to find suitable alternate fuels in order to reduce the exhaust emission levels without deteriorating the basic performance characteristics of conventional spark-ignited (SI) engines. One of the methods to achieve the above problem is the use of alcohols as full supplement fuels to normal gasoline. At the same time, many related research studies have shown that the use of alcohols has a negative impact on some basic engine performance characteristics, e.g., brake power output, etc. On the other hand, spark timing is one of the critical engine operating parameters that significantly influences the combustion mechanism inside the combustion chamber of a SI engine. Therefore, the primary objective of the present work is to investigate the effect of spark timing on the performance and emissions characteristics of a conventional, four-stroke, SI engine running under three different fuel operating modes, viz. with conventional gasoline or ethanol or butanol. The specific investigation is conducted by using an in-house, comprehensive, two-zone phenomenological model. The predictive ability of the model is tested against pertinent experimental data and it is found that the computed results are in good agreement with the respective experimental ones. For all test cases examined herein, the results concern basic engine performance characteristics, i.e., cylinder pressure, power output, specific fuel consumption etc., as well as NO and CO emissions. The main objectives of the work were to record and evaluate the impact that spark timing has on the performance characteristics and emitted pollutants of a conventional SI engine, operating under either conventional gasoline or ethanol or butanol fuel operating modes. Moreover, it deals with the determination of an optimum combination between the type of fuel used and the spark timing, so that probable undesirable effects on engine performance characteristics would be avoided. By comparing this investigation results, it is revealed that the use of alcohols as a full substitute fuel of gasoline accompanied with an appropriate alteration of the spark timing, could be a promising solution to improving both the efficiency and environmental behavior of a light-duty, spark-ignited (SI) engine, without causing any harmful problems to the engine operational lifetime. The conclusions from the study may prove valuable for the application of this technological solution to existing conventional SI engines.

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Experimental comparative study on combustion, performance and emissions characteristics of methanol, ethanol and butanol in a spark ignition engine

Cited by 142 publications

References 58 publications

The Effect of Using Ethanol-Gasoline Blends on the Mechanical, Energy and Environmental Performance of In-Use Vehicles

The Effect of Using Ethanol-Gasoline Blends on the Mechanical, Energy and Environmental Performance of In-Use Vehicles

Experimental investigation on multi-cylinder SI engine fueled conventional gasoline, ethanol blends, and micro-emulsion as an alternative fuel

Theoretical Study of the Effects of Spark Timing on the Performance and Emissions of a Light-Duty Spark Ignited Engine Running under Either Gasoline or Ethanol or Butanol Fuel Operating Modes

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