Spark ignition engine performance and emissions in a high compression engine using biogas and methane mixtures without knock occurrence

Abstract

With the purpose to use biogas in an internal combustion engine with high compression ratio and in order to get a high output thermal efficiency, this investigation used a Diesel engine with a maximum output power 8.5 kW, which was converted to spark ignition mode to use it with gaseous fuels. Three fuels were used: simulated biogas, biogas enriched with 25%, and 50% methane by volume. After conversion, the output power of the engine decreased by 17.64% when using only biogas, where 7 kWwas the new maximum output power of the engine. The compression ratio was kept at 15.5:1, and knocking did not occur during engine operation. Output thermal efficiency operating the engine in spark ignition mode with biogas enriched with 50% methane was almost the same compared with the engine running in diesel- biogas dual mode at full load and was greater at part loads. The dependence of the diesel pilot was eliminated when biogas was used in the engine converted in spark ignition mode. The optimum condition of experiment for the engine without knocking was using biogas enriched with 50% methane, with twelve degrees of spark timing advance and equivalence ratio of 0.95, larger output powers and higher values of methane concentration lead the engine to knock operation. The presence of carbon dioxide allows operating engines at high compression ratios with normal combustion conditions. Emissions of nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and unburnt methane all in g/kWh decreased when the biogas was enriched with 50% methane.