Performance combustion and emission characteristics of 3-cylinder si engine fuelled conventional gasoline, ethanol blends, and micro-emulsion used as an alternative fuel

Abstract

In this contribution 15% ethanol blend with 85% gasoline, and micro-emulsion fuel (90% gasoline, 8% ethanol, & 2% H2O) was compared with 100% conventional gasoline fuel on 3-cylinder Spark Ignition engine to check its performance and emission characteristics. The AVL Boost software was used for predicting the performance and emission characteristics of 3-cylinder SI engine. It was found that although power increases for conventional 100% gasoline as the fuel, as compared to 15% ethanol blends and micro-emulsion fuel, but emissions were reduced more for micro-emulsion used as an alternative fuel in SI engine, and it meets the standards of present emission norms Euro 6. Micro-emulsion fuel was prepared in the lab by blending gasoline, ethanol and H2O was used as an additive in the fuel for improving its physical & thermal properties. The H2O molecule present in the fuel helped in reducing the emissions from 3-cylinder SI engine. As H2O addition increases the oxygen concentration in the micro-emulsion fuel which helps in enhancing the combustion of fuel, and in build oxygen atom inside the ethanol fuel also helps in better combustion which ultimately gives less CO, HC, & NOx emissions. The vibe-2 zone model was used for the combustion analysis of the engine which involves both burnt and unburnt gases in the combustion chamber. The results showed that micro-emulsion fuel not only improves the performance but also reduces the emissions. All the emissions CO, HC, and NOx showed decrease for ethanol blended fuel and micro-emulsion as compared to 100% gasoline fuel.