The performance of a spark-ignition engine fueled with natural gas and gasoline

Journal Article · Wed Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1984 · SAE Prepr.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6570230

Evans, R L; Goharian, F; Hill, P G

An experimental evaluation has been made of the power output, specific fuel consumption and thermal efficiency of a modern 4 cylinder spark ignition engine operating on gasoline and natural gas. Tests have been conducted at various speeds, spark advance angles and airfuel ratios, all at wide open throttle. Performance on gasoline and natural gas has been compared and optimum spark advance determined for natural gas operation. With natural gas operation, brake power was found to decrease by between 11.3% and 16.6% compared to gasoline operation. Brake specific fuel consumption was found to decrease with natural gas operation, although this is due to the higher calorific value of natural gas. In terms of brake thermal efficiency, operation with natural gas was found to be less efficient than with gasoline. This is due to the lower flame speed of natural gas and the proportionally higher friction losses at the reduced power levels.

• Research Organization: University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia
• OSTI ID: 6570230
• Journal Information: SAE Prepr.; (United States), Journal Name: SAE Prepr.; (United States) Vol. 840234; ISSN SEPPA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
330101 -- Internal Combustion Engines-- Spark-Ignition
330800* -- Emission Control-- Alternative Fuels
CALORIFIC VALUE
COMBUSTION PROPERTIES
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
EFFICIENCY
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
ENERGY LOSSES
ENERGY SOURCES
ENGINES
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FRICTION
FUEL CONSUMPTION
FUEL GAS
FUEL SUBSTITUTION
FUEL-AIR RATIO
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
GASOLINE
HEAT ENGINES
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
LIQUID FUELS
LOSSES
NATURAL GAS
PERFORMANCE
PERFORMANCE TESTING
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
SPARK IGNITION ENGINES
TESTING
THERMAL EFFICIENCY