Performance of Combustion and Emissions Characteristics of Ethanol Dual Injection Spark Ignition Engine

NIZAR F.O. AL-MUHSEN; Guang Hong; Firas Basim Ismail

doi:10.15282/ijame.18.3.2021.20.0697

Authors

N.F.O. Al-Muhsen Middle Technical University, Baghdad, 10001 Iraq https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5606-0131
G. Hong School of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, 15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia
F.B. Ismail Power Generation Unit, Institute of Power Engineering (IPE), Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN), 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15282/ijame.18.3.2021.20.0697

Keywords:

Spart ignition engine; Ethanol dual combustion; Ethanol combustion; Emissions

Abstract

Ethanol dual injection (DualEI) is a new technology to maximise the benefits of ethanol fuel to the spark-ignition engine. In this study, the combustion and emissions characteristics in a DualEI spark-ignition engine with a variation of the direct injection (DI) ratio and engine speed were experimentally investigated. The volume ratio of DI was varied from 0% (DI0%) to 100% (DI100%), and two engine speeds of 3500 and 4000 RPM were tested. The spark timing for maximum brake torque (MBT) was first determined, and then the results of the effect of DI ratio on the engine performance at the MBT conditions were discussed and analysed. The results showed that the MBT timing for the DI and spark timings were 330 and 30 CAD bTDC, respectively. At the MBT timing, the indicated mean effective pressure slightly increased from 0.47 to 0.50 MPa when the DI ratio increased from DI0% to DI100%. However, the maximum combustion pressure significantly decreased by 8.32%, and volumetric efficiency increased by 4.04%. This was attributed to the reduced combustion temperature due to the cooling effect of ethanol fuel enhanced by the DI strategy. The indicated specific carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons significantly increased due to poor mixture quality caused by fuel impingement associated with the overcooling effect. However, the indicated specific nitric oxides significantly decreased due to the temperature reduction inside the combustion chamber. Results showed the potential of DualEI to increase the compression ratio and consequently increase the engine thermal efficiency without the risk of engine knock.

Author Biography

G. Hong, School of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, 15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia

Dr Guang Hong is Associate Professor in the Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering Program. She received her undergraduate degree in 1976 and Master's degree in 1982 from the Huazhong University of Science & Technology (HuazhongUST), China, and her Ph.D. in 1989 from the University of Cambridge, U.K, all in the area of internal combustion (IC) engines. Dr Hong has been working at UTS since 1990, Research Fellow from 1990 to 1991, and Lecturer from 1992 to 1997. She was promoted to senior lecturer in 1997 and Associate Professor in 2003.