This paper reports performance evaluation of four–stroke, single–cylinder, water cooled, variable compression ratio (3–9), variable speed (2200–3000 rpm) spark ignition engine with brake power of 2.2 kW at a speed of 3000 rpm with copper coated combustion chamber (CCE) [copper-(thickness, 300 μ) was coated on piston crown, inner side of liner and cylinder head] with alcohol blended gasoline [20% methanol with 80% gasoline; 20% of ethanol with 80% of gasoline by volume) with varied spark ignition timing provided with catalytic converter with sponge iron as catalyst along with air injection and compared with engine with conventional combustion chamber (CE) with gasoline operation. Performance parameters and exhaust emissions (CO and UBHC) were evaluated at full load operation of the engine. Aldehydes (formaldehyde and acetaldehyde) were measured by wet method of 2,4, dinitrophenyle method at full load operation of the engine. Alcohol blended gasoline operation improved performance and reduced CO and UBHC emissions when compared with gasoline operation with both versions of the combustion chamber. At recommended and injection timing, CCE with test fuels improved performance and reduced pollution levels, when compared with CE. Catalytic converter with sponge iron as catalyst along with air injection significantly reduced pollutants with test fuels.
The Performance of Chrome-Coated Copper as Metallic Catalytic Converter to Reduce Exhaust Gas Emissions from Spark-Ignition Engine
