ABSTRACT
In the present investigation, experiments were conducted in wide open throttle condition (WOT) for different speed ranging from 1400 rpm to 1800 rpm at an interval of 200 on a single-cylinder four-stroke port-injected; spark-ignition engine. The engine fueled with equi-volume blend of methanol/gasoline was tested for different ignition timing and its effects on engine characteristics. The experiment results shown, retardation of ignition timing to 14⁰ BTDC exhibits excellent results compared to 24⁰ BTDC ignition timing. The results obtained show a good agreement of improvisation observed with M50 fuel in terms of BTE and BSEC at a speed of 1600 rpm when compared to gasoline fuel. The optimal ignition timing attributes to good combustion efficiency with increasing cylinder pressure and heat release rate. However, low carbon–hydrogen ratio and oxygen content in methanol aids to reduced NOx, HC, and CO emissions by 50%, 35%, and 40%, respectively. The small increase of 10% in CO2 emission is observed; this is due to retardation of ignition time, which allows the M50 fuel to absorb sufficient energy and achieve complete combustion.
Nomenclature
M50 | = | 50% methanol by volume |
BTDC | = | before Top Dead Centre |
BTE | = | Brake Thermal Efficiency |
BSEC | = | Brake Specific Energy Consumption |
BSFC | = | Brake Specific Fuel Consumption |
BMEP | = | Brake Mean Effective Pressure |
BP | = | Brake Power |
NHRR | = | Net Heat Release Rate |
DAQ | = | Data Acquisition system |
DME | = | Dimethyl ether |
WOT | = | Wide open Throttle |
σ | = | Standard deviation |
CO | = | Carbon monoxide |
CO2 | = | Carbon dioxide |
NOx | = | Oxides of Nitrogen |
PM | = | Particulate Matter |
SOx | = | Oxides of Sulphur |
HC | = | Hydro Carbon |
ECU | = | Electronic Control Unit |
PE | = | Performance Electronics |
ADC | = | Analog to Digital Converter |
RON | = | Research Octane Number |
= | Arithmetic mean |
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Nuthan Prasad B. S.
Nuthan Prasad B. S. obtained his BE (Mechanical) in 2009 and M. Tech (Thermal Power) in 2011 from Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology, Bangalore and spent the next two years (2011-2013) in the same institute as a Research Associate with the CFD Research Group of the Mechanical Department under a research project on Simulation of Transitional Flows,sponsored by the Naval Research Board (DRDO). Currently pursuing Ph.D. at National Institute of technology Karnataka (NITK), Surathkal, India. His research interest includes internal combustion engines, alternative fuels, combustion, renewable energy and heat transfer, CFD.
Kumar G. N.
Kumar G. N. is an Associate Professor in National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK), Surathkal, India. He is having 17 years of professional experience and published more than 30 research papers in reputed International journals. Kumar G N, received his B.E degree in Automobile engineering in 1996 and earned his M.Tech from KREC, Surathkal in 1999 and Ph.D. degree from Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, India in 2011. His major interests are Alternative fuels for IC engines, Simulation of IC engines, Heat Transfer.