Experimental investigation of a novel alcohol fumigation in a single-cylinder constant speed diesel engine

ABSTRACT

Biofuels play an important role as alternate fuel in diesel engines. In this paper, alcohol fumigation on a constant speed single-cylinder diesel engine is experimentally investigated. Fumigation is a method by which volatile fuels are injected into the intake manifold. Previously carburation and injection arrangements have been used for fumigation. In this work, computer control injection using LabVIEW software is attempted for alcohol fumigation and common rail is used to inject at same pressure always. Ethanol and methanol at different rates are used as fumigation fuels. The performance and emission characteristics are studied with and without fumigation. Fumigation increases specific fuel consumption (SFC), carbon monoxide emission and hydrocarbon emission. Fumigation decreases brake thermal efficiency at low load, carbon dioxide and smoke. Fumigation increases SFC at medium and high load conditions. The results show that fumigation replaces diesel up to a certain percentage and reduces both nitrogen oxides and smoke.

KEYWORDS:

• Fumigation
• ethanol
• methanol
• electronic injection
• LabVIEW

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the management of K.S. Rangasamy College of Technology, Tiruchengode, India for providing the laboratory facilities to carry out the research.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.