Ethanol and methanol blends with gasoline: an experimental approach to engine performance and emissions

Thesis/Dissertation · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:5398747

Bata, R M

The effect of mixing methanol and/or ethanol with gasoline in fuel blends on brake specific fuel consumption, brake specific energy consumption, and exhaust gas emissions (CO, HC, CHO) was studied. Tests were conducted on an OEM 4-cylinder engine running at different conditions of equivalence ratio, spark timing, percent of alcohol in alcohol-gasoline blends, and mixture of methanol and ethanol in the fuel. Results indicated that fuel consumption increased as the percentage of alcohol was increased above 5% in an alcohol-gasoline blend. Fuel consumption also increased by 2 to 5% with retarded spark timings. Brake specific energy consumption was found to decrease by up to 8% with an increase of alcohol up to 15% in the blend. Minimum specific energy consumption was found to occur with normal spark timing and with equivalence ratios on the lean side of stoichiometric air-fuel ratios. No significant differences in brake specific fuel consumption or brake specific energy consumption were observed when different alcohols were used. Presence of alcohol in blend fuels reduced the concentration of CO in the exhaust emissions (up to 40-50% compared to gasoline fuel). Minimum CO emissions were observed to occur with equivalence ratios in the lean range (A/F ratios of 1 to 1.2). Methanol-gasoline blends were found to be slightly more effective than ethanol-gasoline blends in reducing CO. Hydrocarbon emission was also found to decrease by increasing the alcohol content of the fuel.

• Research Organization: Florida Univ., Gainesville (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5398747
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

090200* -- Alcohol Fuels-- (-1989)
10 SYNTHETIC FUELS
ALDEHYDES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
DISPERSIONS
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
ENGINES
EXHAUST GASES
FLUIDS
FUEL CONSUMPTION
FUEL-AIR RATIO
FUELS
GASEOUS WASTES
GASES
GASOHOL
HEAT ENGINES
HYDROCARBONS
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
LIQUID FUELS
MIXTURES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
TESTING
WASTES