Experimental investigation on spark-ignition (SI) engine fuelled with acetylene in dual-fuel mode

Abstract

In this study, the effect of acetylene induction on the performance, emissions, and combustion characteristics of a petrol-acetylene-fuelled spark-ignition engine at 1400 rpm was experimentally investigated. Initially, the optimum flow rate of acetylene was found by analysing the performance and emissions for different flow rates of acetylene i.e. 50, 100, 150, and 200 LPH. It was observed that at 100 LPH flow rate the performance was the best and major emissions were either low or comparable to other cases. After finalising the optimum acetylene flow rate the combustion studies were carried out at this flow rate only. Pressure vs. crank angle plots indicate normal combustion with acetylene with slight abnormality at high loads. When compared with gasoline the peak pressures at different loads were found slightly higher resulting in improved combustion. Thus, it can be concluded that acetylene can be a good gasoline substitute.

Abbreviations: aTDC: after top dead centre; BSEC: brake specific energy consumption; bTDC: before top dead centre; BTE: brake thermal efficiency; CI: compress ignition; CNG: compress natural gas; CO: carbon monoxide; CO₂: carbon dioxide; CR: compression ratio; DAD: data acquisition device; EGT: exhaust gas temperature (°C); HC: hydrocarbon; IC: internal combustion; LPG: liquefied petroleum gas; LPH: litres per hour; NO_x: oxides of nitrogen; rpm: revolution per minute; SI: spark ignition; TDC: top dead centre; VCR: variable compression ratio; WC: water column

KEYWORDS:

• Petrol engine
• acetylene
• performance
• combustion and emissions in dual-fuel mode

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Mr Ramesh Chand Meena (Sr. Technician), Dharmendra Kumar Kumawat, and Abhishek Sharma for their help in preparing the experimental set-up and measurements. Their contributions are greatly appreciated.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).