Analysis of Higher Alcohol Fuel Blends for IC Engine—A Review

Methanol (CH3OH) and ethanol (C2H5OH) are generally called alcohol. They can be mixed with gasoline to fuel SI engine. The fuel blends of alcohol and gasoline are named gasohol. Alcohol emission characteristics and the contributions of fuel on hydrocarbon (HC) emission were experimentally investigated on a three-cylinder, electronic controlled, spark ignition JL368Q3 engine when it ran on 10 (v/v) %, 20 (v/v) %, and 85 (v/v) % methanol/gasoline and ethanol/gasoline fuel blends. Experimental results show that, the value of alcohol emission rates (g alcohol emission per kg alcohol fuel, g/kg.) is a decreasing exponential function of exhaust temperature with high correlation; regardless of the alcohol fraction in fuel blends, the CH3OH emission rate is no more than 8%, while that of C2H5OH no more than 35%. The emission rate of nonalcohol HC was one grade higher than the alcohol emission rate; the minimum HC emission rate occurs at middle and high engine loads, it is around 40% for methanol/gasoline blends and about 50% for ethanol/gasoline blends. Gasoline is the main source of HC emission of gasohol engine, methanol contributes no more than 8% while ethanol no more than 25% on HC emission.

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Mechanisms of Combustion of Hydrocarbon/Alcohol Fuel Blends

10.21236/ada230709 ◽

1990 ◽

Author(s):

Kalyanasundaram Seshadri

Keyword(s):

Fuel Blends ◽

Alcohol Fuel

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Auto Ignition Study of Methane and Bio Alcohol Fuel Blends

Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power ◽

10.1115/1.4045345 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 141 (12) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Xuan Zheng ◽

Shirin Jouzdani ◽

Benjamin Akih-Kumgeh

Keyword(s):

Experimental Data ◽

Kinetic Models ◽

Ignition Delay ◽

Chemical Kinetic ◽

Dual Fuel ◽

Fuel Blends ◽

Ignition Delay Times ◽

Auto Ignition ◽

Alcohol Fuel ◽

Delay Times

Abstract Methane (CH4) and bio alcohols have different ignition properties. These have been extensively studied and the resulting experimental data have been used to validate chemical kinetic models. Methane is the main component of natural gas, which is of interest because of its relative availability and lower emissions compared to other hydrocarbon fuels. Given growing interest in fuel-flexible systems, there can be situations in which the combustion properties of natural gas need to be modified by adding biofuels such as bio alcohols. This can occur in dual-fuel internal combustion engines or gas turbines with dual-fuel capabilities. The combustion behavior of such blends can be understood by studying the auto ignition properties in fundamental combustion experiments. Studies of the ignition of such blends are very limited in the literature. In this work, the auto ignition of methane and bio alcohol fuel blends is investigated using a shock tube facility. The chosen bio alcohols are ethanol (C2H5OH) and n-propanol (NC3H7OH). Experiments are carried out at 3 atm and 10 atm for stoichiometric and lean mixtures of fuel, oxygen, and argon. The ignition delay times of the pure fuels are first established at conditions of constant oxygen concentration and comparable pressures. The ignition delay times of blends with 50% methane are then measured. The pyrolysis kinetics of the blends is further explored by measuring CO formation during pyrolysis of the alcohol and methane–alcohol blends. The resulting experimental data are compared with the predictions of selected chemical kinetic models to establish the ability of these models to predict the disproportionate enhancement of methane ignition by the added alcohol.

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Auto Ignition Study of Methane and Bio Alcohol Fuel Blends

Volume 3: Coal, Biomass, Hydrogen, and Alternative Fuels; Cycle Innovations; Electric Power; Industrial and Cogeneration; Organic Rankine Cycle Power Systems ◽

10.1115/gt2019-91978 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Xuan Zheng ◽

Shirin Jouzdani ◽

Benjamin Akih-Kumgeh

Keyword(s):

Experimental Data ◽

Kinetic Models ◽

Ignition Delay ◽

Chemical Kinetic ◽

Dual Fuel ◽

Fuel Blends ◽

Ignition Delay Times ◽

Auto Ignition ◽

Alcohol Fuel ◽

Delay Times

Abstract Methane (CH4) and bio alcohols have different ignition properties. These have been extensively studied and the resulting experimental data have been used to validate chemical kinetic models. Methane is the main component of natural gas, which is of interest because of its relative availability and lower emissions compared to other hydrocarbon fuels. Given growing interest in fuel-flexible systems, there can be situations in which the combustion properties of natural gas need to be modified by adding biofuels, such as bio alcohols. This can occur in dual fuel internal combustion engines or gas turbines with dual fuel capabilities. The combustion behavior of such blends can be understood by studying the auto ignition properties in fundamental combustion experiments. Studies of the ignition of such blends are very limited in the literature. In this work, the auto ignition of methane and bio alcohol fuel blends is investigated using a shock tube facility. The chosen bio alcohols are ethanol (C2H5OH) and n-propanol (NC3H7OH). Experiments are carried out at 3 atm and 10 atm for stoichiometric and lean mixtures of fuel, oxygen, and argon. The ignition delay times of the pure fuels are first established at conditions of constant oxygen concentration and comparable pressures. The ignition delay times of blends with 50% methane are then measured. The pyrolysis kinetics of the blends is further explored by measuring CO formation during pyrolysis of the alcohol and methane-alcohol blends. The resulting experimental data are compared with the predictions of selected chemical kinetic models to establish the ability of these models to predict the disproportionate enhancement of methane ignition by the added alcohol.

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