Methanol as a fuel additive: effect on the performance and emissions of a gasoline engine

ABSTRACT

The use of alternative fuels, such as alcohol-based fuels, has received a significant attention as a substitute for gasoline in spark-ignition engine. This study examines the influence of methanol-gasoline blends on both performance and emissions of a single-cylinder, spark-ignition engine. The engine is tested under full load conditions and at speeds range varying from 1000 to 3000 rpm. Four fuel blends labeled M0, M10, M20, and M40, were used, where the numbers represent the percentage by volume of methanol in the blend. It has been shown that the addition of methanol improves the power output and the torque of the engine. The highest improvement observed in engine power is 37% for M20 blend. Specific fuel consumption and thermal efficiency have also been improved with increasing methanol blending ratio. M40 showed a decrease in fuel consumption by 38% and an enhancement in thermal efficiency by 95%, at medium speed, compared to pure gasoline. Additionally, the results have shown significant reduction in CO and CO₂ emissions, more particularly at low engine speeds (below 2000 rpm), where the addition of methanol (up to M40) has led to reducing CO emission with up to 70% compared to that of M0. However, NO_x emissions increased with increasing methanol blending ratio. The highest increase in NOx levels was given by M40 by about 60% at low engine speed.

KEYWORDS:

• Emissions
• SI engine
• fuel blend
• gasoline
• methanol
• performance

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This research received no external funding.

Notes on contributors

Mehrez Gassoumi

Mehrez Gassoumi obtained his engineer diploma in mechanical engineering from the National School of Engineers (ENIG) at the University of Gabes in 2017. He is in his fourth year as a PhD student at ENIG. His research is focused on the blending effects of oxygenated fuels such as alcohols on gasoline engine performance.

Zouhair Boutar

Zouhair Boutar is an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at University of Gabes. He holds a PhD from the University of Paris 6-Pierre et Marie Curie, France. His main research focus is on ICE optimization.

Raja Mazuir Raja Ahsan Shah

Raja Mazuir Raja Ahsan Shah is the Associate Dean of the College of Engineering Technology at University of Doha for Science and Technology, Qatar. He obtained his PhD in Engineering from the University of Warwick in 2013. His research focus is on green mobility and energy such as hybrid powertrain-vehicle dynamic interaction, energy storage systems and advanced propulsion systems.

Mohannad T. Aljarrah

Mohannad T. Aljarrah is an Assistant Professor at Jordan University of Science and Technology. He holds a PhD in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from the University of Akron, Ohio, USA in 2009. he has focused on Materials and Chemical Engineering, Polymer Chemistry, Nanotechnology.

Mansour Al Qubeissi

Mansour Al Qubeissi is Associate Professor at Coventry University Faculty of Engineering Environment and Computing, UK. He obtained a PhD in Engineering from the University of Sussex in 2012 and a PhD from the Brighton in 2015. His main expertise is on renewable energy engineering, computational thermo-fluids, biofuels and energy systems.

Ridha Ennetta

Ridha Ennetta is an Associate Professor in Mechanical Engineering at University of Gabes, Tunisia. He holds a PhD in Applied Physics from University of Monastir, Tunisia in 2010. His main research focus is ICE optimization, alternative fuels, biodiesel production, renewable energies.

Angelo Onorati

Angelo Onorati is a Professor at Polytechnic of Milan, Italy. He holds a PhD in Energy from Polytechnic of Milan in 1993. His research interests are concerned with the modeling of internal combustion engines and the study of advanced combustion processes in I.C. engines fueled with natural gas, hydrogen, bio-fuels.

Hakan Serhad Soyhan

Hakan Serhad Soyhan is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Sakarya University, Turkey. He received his PhD from Istanbul Technical University in 2000. He is the founder and director of Team-SAN R&D company. He has been working on combustion modelling studies in relation to reduction and control of emissions from transportation means.