Evaluation of hydrogen-containing NaBH4 and oxygen-containing alcohols (CH3OH,C2H5OH) as fuel additives in a gasoline engine

The aim of this study is to obtain alternative fuels with hydrogen-containing (NaBH₄) and oxygen-containing (ethanol, methanol) fuel additives and to test these fuels in a gasoline engine. For this purpose, each of the NaBH₄ added ethanol and methanol solutions was added to pure gasoline at a volume of 10% and mixed fuels named SE10 and SM10 were obtained, respectively. The obtained SE10 and SM10 mixed fuels were tested in a spark ignition engine and the performance and emission effects of the fuels were compared with the pure gasoline fueled engine test data. When the test results of the mixture fuel engine were compared with the test results of the engine running with pure gasoline, the torque of the SE10 fuel engine decreased compared to the pure gasoline engine, while the torque of the SM10 blended engine increased. In addition, while the exhaust gas temperatures of both blended fuels decreased, their specific fuel consumption and thermal efficiency increased. On the other hand, adding NaBH₄ doped ethanol and methanol solutions to pure gasoline resulted in better combustion, reductions in CO emissions of SE10 and SM10 blended fuels by 31.04% and 53.7%, but CO₂ emissions increased by 11.20% and 19.51% respectively. In addition, NO_x emissions of SE10 and SM10 blended fuels decreased by 15.17% and 8.73%, respectively.     

油品差异对汽车发动机性能影响的试验研究

国内外汽车用油存在较大差异,为了让国产车更好地满足国外市场需求,以我国出口汽车使用的甲基叔丁基醚（MTBE）（体积分数为10%）混合汽油、乙醇体积分数为20%（E20）的含水乙醇汽油和我国92号汽油为对象,基于某排量为2.0 T的汽油发动机台架试验,进行了三种油品对发动机性能影响的分析及验证。通过试验结果对比发现,使用MTBE混合汽油和E20含水乙醇汽油的动力性均低于92号汽油。在经济性方面,E20含水乙醇汽油略低于92号汽油,而MTBE混合汽油能使燃料消耗下降7%左右。在排放性方面,使用E20含水乙醇汽油和MTBE混合汽油对CO、HC的排放都有显著的改善效果,而在低转速、低负荷时对NO_x的排放有一定改善,随着转速和负荷的上升,E20含水乙醇汽油对NO_x的排放改善不明显,使用MTBE混合汽油时NO_x的排放反而变差。     

Physico-chemical properties of ethanol–diesel blend fuel and its effect on performance and emissions of diesel engines

The effects of different ethanol–diesel blended fuels on the performance and emissions of diesel engines have been evaluated experimentally and compared in this paper. The purpose of this project is to find the optimum percentage of ethanol that gives simultaneously better performance and lower emissions. The experiments were conducted on a water-cooled single-cylinder Direct Injection (DI) diesel engine using 0% (neat diesel fuel), 5% (E5–D), 10% (E10–D), 15% (E15–D), and 20% (E20–D) ethanol–diesel blended fuels. With the same rated power for different blended fuels and pure diesel fuel, the engine performance parameters (including power, torque, fuel consumption, and exhaust temperature) and exhaust emissions [Bosch smoke number, CO, NO_x, total hydrocarbon (THC)] were measured. The results indicate that: the brake specific fuel consumption and brake thermal efficiency increased with an increase of ethanol contents in the blended fuel at overall operating conditions; smoke emissions decreased with ethanol–diesel blended fuel, especially with E10–D and E15–D. CO and NO_x emissions reduced for ethanol–diesel blends, but THC increased significantly when compared to neat diesel fuel.     

The effect of clove oil and diesel fuel blends on the engine performance and exhaust emissions of a compression-ignition engine

Diesel engines provide the major power source for transportation in the world and contribute to the prosperity of the worldwide economy. However, recent concerns over the environment, increasing fuel prices and the scarcity of fuel supplies have promoted considerable interest in searching for alternatives to petroleum based fuels. Based on this background, the main purpose of this investigation is to evaluate clove stem oil (CSO) as an alternative fuel for diesel engines. To this end, an experimental investigation was performed on a four-stroke, four-cylinder water-cooled direct injection diesel engine to study the performance and emissions of an engine operated using the CSO–diesel blended fuels. The effects of the CSO–diesel blended fuels on the engine brake thermal efficiency, brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC), specific energy consumption (SEC), exhaust gas temperatures and exhaust emissions were investigated. The experimental results reveal that the engine brake thermal efficiency and BSFC of the CSO–diesel blended fuels were higher than the pure diesel fuel while at the same time they exhibited a lower SEC than the latter over the entire engine load range. The variations in exhaust gas temperatures between the tested fuels were significant only at medium speed operating conditions. Furthermore, the HC emissions were lower for the CSO–diesel blended fuels than the pure diesel fuel whereas the NO_x emissions were increased remarkably when the engine was fuelled with the 50% CSO–diesel blended fuel.     

Performance and exhaust emissions of a gasoline engine with ethanol blended gasoline fuels using artificial neural network

The purpose of this study is to experimentally analyse the performance and the pollutant emissions of a four-stroke SI engine operating on ethanol–gasoline blends of 0%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% with the aid of artificial neural network (ANN). The properties of bioethanol were measured based on American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards. The experimental results revealed that using ethanol–gasoline blended fuels increased the power and torque output of the engine marginally. For ethanol blends it was found that the brake specific fuel consumption (bsfc) was decreased while the brake thermal efficiency (η_b.th.) and the volumetric efficiency (η_v) were increased. The concentration of CO and HC emissions in the exhaust pipe were measured and found to be decreased when ethanol blends were introduced. This was due to the high oxygen percentage in the ethanol. In contrast, the concentration of CO₂ and NO_x was found to be increased when ethanol is introduced. An ANN model was developed to predict a correlation between brake power, torque, brake specific fuel consumption, brake thermal efficiency, volumetric efficiency and emission components using different gasoline–ethanol blends and speeds as inputs data. About 70% of the total experimental data were used for training purposes, while the 30% were used for testing. A standard Back-Propagation algorithm for the engine was used in this model. A multi layer perception network (MLP) was used for nonlinear mapping between the input and the output parameters. It was observed that the ANN model can predict engine performance and exhaust emissions with correlation coefficient (R) in the range of 0.97–1. Mean relative errors (MRE) values were in the range of 0.46–5.57%, while root mean square errors (RMSE) were found to be very low. This study demonstrates that ANN approach can be used to accurately predict the SI engine performance and emissions.     

Comparative studies on Performance evaluation of a two stroke copper coated spark ignition engine with alcohols with catalytic converter

AimInvestigations were carried out to evaluate the performance of a two-stroke, single cylinder, spark ignition (SI) engine, with alcohol blended gasoline (80% gasoline, 20% methanol by vol; 80% gasoline and 20% ethanol by volume) having copper coated engine [CCE, copper-(thickness, 300 μm) coated on piston crown, inner side of cylinder head] provided with catalytic converter with sponge iron as catalyst and compared with conventional SI engine (CE) with pure gasoline operation.Study designPerformance parameters of brake thermal efficiency, exhaust gas temperature and volumetric efficiency were determined at various values of brake mean effective pressure (BMEP).MethodologyA microprocessor-based analyzer was used for the measurement of carbon monoxide (CO) and un-burnt hydro carbons (UBHC) in the exhaust of the engine at various values of BMEP. Aldehydes were measured by dinitrophenyl hydrazine (DNPH) method at peak load operation of the engine.Brief resultsCCE with alcohol blended gasoline considerably reduced pollutants in comparison with CE with pure gasoline operation. Catalytic converter with air injection significantly reduced pollutants with test fuels on both configurations of the engine. Gasohol improved the performance of the both versions of the engine in comparison with methanol blended gasoline. On the other hand, methanol blended gasoline effectively reduced the emissions when compared with gasohol in both versions of the engine.     

Effect of ethanol blending with biodiesel on engine performance and exhaust emissions in a CI engine

The use of biodiesel as an alternative diesel engine fuel is increasing rapidly. However, due to technical deficiencies, they are rarely used purely or with high percentages in unmodified diesel engines. Therefore, in this study, we used ethanol as an additive to research the possible use of higher percentages of biodiesel in an unmodified diesel engine. Commercial diesel fuel, 20% biodiesel and 80% diesel fuel, called here as B20, and 80% biodiesel and 20% ethanol, called here as BE20, were used in a single cylinder, four strokes direct injection diesel engine. The effect of test fuels on engine torque, power, brake specific fuel consumption, brake thermal efficiency, exhaust gas temperature, and CO, CO₂, NO_x and SO₂ emissions was investigated. The experimental results showed that the performance of CI engine was improved with the use of the BE20 especially in comparison to B20. Besides, the exhaust emissions for BE20 were fairly reduced.     

The effects of ethanol–unleaded gasoline blends on engine performance and exhaust emissions in a spark-ignition engine

Alcohols have been used as a fuel for engines since 19th century. Among the various alcohols, ethanol is known as the most suited renewable, bio-based and ecofriendly fuel for spark-ignition (SI) engines. The most attractive properties of ethanol as an SI engine fuel are that it can be produced from renewable energy sources such as sugar, cane, cassava, many types of waste biomass materials, corn and barley. In addition, ethanol has higher evaporation heat, octane number and flammability temperature therefore it has positive influence on engine performance and reduces exhaust emissions. In this study, the effects of unleaded gasoline (E0) and unleaded gasoline–ethanol blends (E50 and E85) on engine performance and pollutant emissions were investigated experimentally in a single cylinder four-stroke spark-ignition engine at two compression ratios (10:1 and 11:1). The engine speed was changed from 1500 to 5000 rpm at wide open throttle (WOT). The results of the engine test showed that ethanol addition to unleaded gasoline increase the engine torque, power and fuel consumption and reduce carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NO_x) and hydrocarbon (HC) emissions. It was also found that ethanol–gasoline blends allow increasing compression ratio (CR) without knock occurrence.     

The effect of adding dimethyl carbonate (DMC) and ethanol to unleaded gasoline on exhaust emission

Oxygen containing additives are usually used to improve gasoline’s performance and reduce exhaust emissions. In this study, the effect of oxygen containing additives on gasoline blended fuels on exhaust emissions was investigated for different engine speeds in a single cylinder, four-stroke, spark-ignition engine. The results indicate that CO and HC exhaust emissions are lower with the use of ethanol–gasoline and DMC–gasoline blended fuels as compared to the use of unleaded gasoline. On the other hand, the effect of ethanol–gasoline and DMC–gasoline blended fuels on NO_X exhaust emission is insignificant. Using oxygen containing additives can increase fuel consumption as a result of the heating value of the blended fuels being lower than that of unleaded gasoline.     

Determination of ecological efficiency in internal combustion engines: The use of biodiesel

This paper evaluates and quantifies the environmental impact from the use of some renewable fuels and fossils fuels in internal combustion engines. The following fuels are evaluated: gasoline blended with anhydrous ethyl alcohol (anhydrous ethanol), conventional diesel fuel, biodiesel in pure form and blended with diesel fuel, and natural gas. For the case of biodiesel, its complete life cycle and the closed carbon cycle (photosynthesis) were considered. The ecological efficiency concept depends on the environmental impact caused by CO₂, SO₂, NO_x and particulate material (PM) emissions. The exhaust gases from internal combustion engines, in the case of the gasoline (blended with alcohol), biodiesel and biodiesel blended with conventional diesel, are the less polluting; on the other hand, the most polluting are those related to conventional diesel. They can cause serious problems to the environment because of their dangerous components for the human, animal and vegetable life. The resultant pollution of each one of the mentioned fuels are analyzed, considering separately CO₂, SO₂, NO_x and particulate material (PM) emissions. As conclusion, it is possible to calculate an environmental factor that represents, qualitatively and quantitative, the emissions in internal combustion engines that are mostly used in urban transport. Biodiesel in pure form (B100) and blended with conventional diesel as fuel for engines pollute less than conventional diesel fuel. The ecological efficiency for pure biodiesel (B100) is 86.75%; for biodiesel blended with conventional diesel fuel (B20, 20% biodiesel and 80% diesel), it is 78.79%. Finally, the ecological efficiency for conventional diesel, when used in engines, is 77.34%; for gasoline, it is 82.52%, and for natural gas, it is 91.95%. All these figures considered a thermal efficiency of 30% for the internal combustion engine.     

Hydrogen enriched waste oil biodiesel usage in compression ignition engine

In the present study, hydrogen enrichment for biodiesel-diesel blends was evaluated to investigate the performance and emission characteristics of a compression ignition engine. Biodiesel was obtained from waste oil and blended to pure diesel fuel by volume fraction of 0%, 10% and 20%. After that, pure hydrogen was introduced through the intake air at different flow rates. Effects of pure hydrogen on performance and emission characteristics were investigated by evaluating power, torque, specific fuel consumption, CO, CO₂ and NO_x emissions. Experimental study revealed that waste oil biodiesel usage deteriorated performance and emission parameters except CO emissions. However, the enrichment test fuels with hydrogen fuel can improve performance characteristics and emission parameters, whereas it increased NO_x emissions. Brake thermal efficiency and specific fuel consumption were improved when the test fuels enriched with hydrogen gas. Because of absence of carbon atoms in the chemical structure of the hydrogen fuel, hydrogen addition dropped CO and CO₂ emissions but increment in cylinder temperature caused rising in NO_x emissions.     

CNG-diesel engine performance and exhaust emission analysis with the aid of artificial neural network

This study investigates the use of artificial neural network (ANN) modelling to predict brake power, torque, break specific fuel consumption (BSFC), and exhaust emissions of a diesel engine modified to operate with a combination of both compressed natural gas CNG and diesel fuels. A single cylinder, four-stroke diesel engine was modified for the present work and was operated at different engine loads and speeds. The experimental results reveal that the mixtures of CNG and diesel fuel provided better engine performance and improved the emission characteristics compared with the pure diesel fuel. For the ANN modelling, the standard back-propagation algorithm was found to be the optimum choice for training the model. A multi-layer perception network was used for non-linear mapping between the input and output parameters. It was found that the ANN model is able to predict the engine performance and exhaust emissions with a correlation coefficient of 0.9884, 0.9838, 0.95707, and 0.9934 for the engine torque, BSFC, NO_x and exhaust temperature, respectively.     

Effects of turpentine and gasoline-like fuel obtained from waste lubrication oil on engine performance and exhaust emission

In this study, an experimental investigation was carried out to determine the effects of gasoline-like fuel (GLF), and its blends with turpentine with ratios of 10%, 20%, and 30% on the performance and emission characteristics of a gasoline engine. The GLF was obtained from waste lubrication engine oil by the method of pyrolitic distillation. Characteristics of the pure GLF and its blends were tested. A series of engine performance and emission tests were conducted using the fuel samples in the test engine. Performance parameters for each test were calculated utilizing measurement values of force exerted on the crank shaft, rate of air and fuel mass flow to the engine and engine speed. Effects of the fuels on the performance parameters, exhaust gas temperature, and emissions of NOx, CO, CO₂, and HC were discussed. The results indicated that torque, brake mean effective pressure and thermal efficiency increased but brake specific fuel consumption decreased with increasing amount of turpentine in the GLF sample. The main effect of 10%, 20% and 30% turpentine additions to GLF on pollutant formation was that the NOx ratio increased, whereas that of CO decreased.     

Experimental and numerical investigation of effects of CNG and gasoline fuels on engine performance and emissions in a dual sequential spark ignition engine

Compared to widening usage of CNG in commercial gasoline engines, insufficient but increasing number of studies have appeared in open literature during last decades while engine characteristics need to be quantified in exact numbers for each specific fuel converted engine. In this study, a dual sequential spark ignition engine (Honda L13A4 i-DSI) is tested separately either with gasoline or CNG at wide open throttle. This specific engine has unique features of dual sequential ignition with variable timing, asymmetrical combustion chamber, and diagonally positioned dual spark-plug. Thus, the engine led some important engine technologies of VTEC and VVT. Tests are performed by varying the engine speed from 1500 rpm to 4000 rpm with an increment of 500 rpm. The engine’s maximum torque speed of 2800 rpm is also tested. For gasoline and CNG fuels, engine performance (brake torque, brake power, brake specific fuel consumption, brake mean effective pressure), emissions (O₂, CO₂, CO, HC, NO_x, and lambda), and the exhaust gas temperature are evaluated. In addition, numerical engine analyses are performed by constructing a 1-D model for the entire test rig and the engine by using Ricardo-Wave software. In the 1-D engine model, same test parameters are analyzed, and same test outputs are calculated. Thus, the test and the 1-D engine model are employed to quantify the effects of gasoline and CNG fuels on the engine performance and emissions for a unique engine. In general, all test and model results show similar and close trends. Results for the tested commercial engine show that CNG operation decreases the brake torque (12.7%), the brake power (12.4%), the brake mean effective pressure (12.8%), the brake specific fuel consumption (16.5%), the CO₂ emission (12.1%), the CO emission (89.7%). The HC emission for CNG is much lower than gasoline. The O₂ emission for CNG is approximately 55.4% higher than gasoline. The NO_x emission for CNG at high speeds is higher than gasoline. The variation percentages are the averages of the considered speed range from 1500 rpm to 4000 rpm.     

Emissions characteristics of spark ignition engine operating on lower–higher molecular mass alcohol blended gasoline fuels

An experimental investigation of emissions characteristics of lower–higher molecular mass alcohol blended gasoline fuels is presented in this paper. The alcohol component of the blends consisted of methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol and pentanol. Apparatuses used in the present study were a single cylinder spark ignition engine, a hydraulic dynamometer and an exhaust analyzer. The variables that were continuously measured include engine rotational speed (min⁻¹), CO, CO₂, HC and NO emissions. During variable load tests, the results indicate that CO and HC levels in the engine exhaust are reduced with the operation on alcohol gasoline blends. NO emissions with alcohol gasoline blends are higher than with gasoline.     

甲醇-汽油混合燃料电喷汽油机性能的试验研究

在一台多点电喷汽油机上,系统开展了燃用高比例的甲醇汽油混合燃料(甲醇的体积比为85%)M85时发动机的动力性,经济性和排放特性。研究结果表明:电喷汽油机燃用M85时,动力性明显改善,经济性明显提高,有效热效率明显提高;CO和NOx的排放有明显改善,但HC排放明显恶化。     

Performance, emission and economic assessment of clove stem oil–diesel blended fuels as alternative fuels for diesel engines

In this study the performance, emission and economic evaluation of using the clove stem oil (CSO)–diesel blended fuels as alternative fuels for diesel engine have been carried out. Experiments were performed to evaluate the impact of the CSO–diesel blended fuels on the engine performance and emissions. The societal life cycle cost (LCC) was chosen as an important indicator for comparing alternative fuel operating modes. The LCC using the pure diesel fuel, 25% CSO and 50% CSO–diesel blended fuels in diesel engine are analysed. These costs include the vehicle first cost, fuel cost and exhaust emissions cost. A complete macroeconomic assessment of the effect of introducing the CSO–diesel blended fuels to the diesel engine is not included in the study. Engine tests show that performance parameters of the CSO–diesel blended fuels do not differ greatly from those of the pure diesel fuel. Slight power losses, combined with an increase in fuel consumption, were experienced with the CSO–diesel blended fuels. This is due to the low heating value of the CSO–diesel blended fuels. Emissions of CO and HC are low for the CSO–diesel blended fuels. NO_x emissions were increased remarkably when the engine was fuelled with the 50% CSO–diesel blended fuel operation mode. A remarkable reduction in the exhaust smoke emissions can be achieved when operating on the CSO–diesel blended fuels. Based on the LCC analysis, the CSO–diesel blended fuels would not be competitive with the pure diesel fuel, even though the environmental impact of emission is valued monetarily. This is due to the high price of the CSO.     

Preparation,characterization, engine combustion and emission characteristics of rapeseed oil based hybrid fuels

In this study, hybrid fuels consisting of rapeseed oil/diesel blend, 1% aqueous ethanol and a surfactant (oleic acid/1-butanol mixture) were prepared and tested as a fuel in a direct injection (DI) diesel engine. The main fuel properties such as the density, viscosity and lower heating value (LHV) of these fuels were measured, and the engine performance, combustion and exhaust emissions were investigated and compared with that of diesel fuel. The experimental results showed that the viscosity and density of the hybrid fuels were decreased and close to that of diesel fuel with the increase of ethanol volume fraction up to 30%. The start of combustion was later than that of diesel fuel and the peak cylinder pressure, peak pressure rise rate and peak heat release rate were higher than those of diesel fuel. The brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) of hybrid fuels was increased with the volume fraction of ethanol and higher than that of diesel. The brake specific energy consumption (BSEC) was almost identical for all test fuels. The smoke emissions were lower than those for diesel fuel at high engine loads, the NO_x emissions were almost similar to those of diesel fuel, but CO and HC emissions were higher, especially at low engine loads.     

Comparative engine performance and emission analysis of CNG and gasoline in a retrofitted car engine

A comparative analysis is being performed of the engine performance and exhaust emission on a gasoline and compressed natural gas (CNG) fueled retrofitted spark ignition car engine. A new 1.6 L, 4-cylinder petrol engine was converted to the computer incorporated bi-fuel system which operated with either gasoline or CNG using an electronically controlled solenoid actuated valve mechanism. The engine brake power, brake specific fuel consumption, brake thermal efficiency, exhaust gas temperature and exhaust emissions (unburnt hydrocarbon, carbon mono-oxide, oxygen and carbon dioxides) were measured over a range of speed variations at 50% and 80% throttle positions through a computer based data acquisition and control system. Comparative analysis of the experimental results showed 19.25% and 10.86% reduction in brake power and 15.96% and 14.68% reduction in brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) at 50% and 80% throttle positions respectively while the engine was fueled with CNG compared to that with the gasoline. Whereas, the retrofitted engine produced 1.6% higher brake thermal efficiency and 24.21% higher exhaust gas temperature at 80% throttle had produced an average of 40.84% higher NO_x emission over the speed range of 1500–5500 rpm at 80% throttle. Other emission contents (unburnt HC, CO, O₂ and CO₂) were significantly lower than those of the gasoline emissions.     

Using HHO (Hydroxy) and hydrogen enriched castor oil biodiesel in compression ignition engine

Hydrogen and HHO enriched biodiesel fuels have not been investigated extensively for compression ignition engine. This study investigated the performance and emissions characteristics of a diesel engine fueled with hydrogen or HHO enriched Castor oil methyl ester (CME)-diesel blends. The production and blending of CME was carried out with a 20% volumetric ratio (CME20) using diesel fuel. In addition, the enrichment of intake air was carried out using pure HHO or hydrogen through the intake manifold with no structural changes – with the exception of the reduction of the amount of diesel fuel – for a naturally aspirated, four cylinder diesel engine with a volume of 3.6 L. Hydrogen amount was kept constant with a ratio of 10 L/min throughout the experiments. Engine performance parameters, including Brake Power, Brake Torque, Brake Specific Fuel Consumption and exhaust emissions – including NOx and CO, – were tested at engine speeds between 1200 and 2600 rpm. It is seen that HHO enriched CME has better results compared to pure hydrogen enrichment to CME. An average improvement of 4.3% with HHO enriched CME20 was found compared to diesel fuel results while pure hydrogen enriched CME20 fuel resulted with an average increase of 2.6%. Also, it was found that the addition of pure hydrogen to CME had a positive effect on exhaust gas emissions compared to that adding HHO. The effects of both enriched fuels on the engine performance were minimal compared to that of diesel fuel. However, the improvements on exhaust gas emissions were significant.