Effect of Combustible Fractions of a Sustainable Producer Gas Fuel on Spark Ignition Engine Combustion, Performance and Emission – An Experimental Analysis

Abstract

This article addresses the effect of combustible components (hydrogen and methane) of a producer gas fuel on in-cylinder combustion, performance, and emissions of a modified spark ignition engine. Owing to the fluctuating tendency of an onsite gasifier produced producer gas composition, a dynamic behavior in engine combustion and performance was expected. Thus, the present study was motivated to investigate the magnitude of the engine response variables against the known fluctuating producer gas composition trend. Experiments were conducted using bottled fueled producer gas on 359 cm³ engine capacity at a compression ratio of 11:1 and 1500 rpm. Further, the engine was operated under naturally aspirated mode and close to stoichiometry. The analysis based on acquired in-cylinder data revealed that, the fractions of hydrogen and methane have a profound effect on combustion duration and specific fuel consumption. Further, the producer gas blends, leading to reduction in fuel gas consumption were identified. On emission front, carbon-monoxide and nitric oxide pollutants were predominant but within prescribed central pollution control board norms of India, especially at full load engine condition and hydrogen enriched blend respectively.

Acknowledgments

Authors are thankful to DST-FIST scheme (Govt of India) and BITS Pilani, K.K. Birla Goa Campus for experimental facility. Authors are also thankful to Mr. Vishal Garg, Mr. Siddhant Rathore and Mr. Jitendranath Nayak for assisting in engine experiments. Thanks to Prof. M.K. Gajendra Babu and Tehsinraza Mulla for their valuable suggestions during preparation of manuscript. Thanks to Dr. J. Shivakumar (Principal & Director) of Jain College of Engineering, Belagavi, India for the encouragement and support.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Metikela Sreedhar Babu

Metikela Sreedhar Babu has been an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Jain College of Engineering, Belagavi, India, since 2017. He obtained his Ph.D. at BITS Pilani University in 2017. He has established combustion research laboratory and is actively involved in fundamental research studies related to flames, heat transfer, alternative fuels, and development of internal combustion engines.

Shibu Clement

Shibu Clement has been an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at BITS Pilani, KK Birla Goa Campus, India since 2015. He obtained his Ph.D. at Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, India in 2006. His main research activities are focused on fluid flow and jet acoustic studies.

Nagamangala Krishnaiyengar Sriranga Rajan

Nagamangala Krishnaiyengar Sriranga Rajan received his Ph.D. at Indian Institute of Science (IISc.), Bengaluru, India in 1990. He has been a principal research scientist in combustion gasification propulsion laboratory of IISc. since 1979 to 2020 in the Department of Aerospace Engineering. His main research activities are focused on gasification, combustion, and heat transfer.