Analysis of motor vehicle engine performance using biogas from sorghum

Abstract

The production of sorghum seeds produces sorghum stalks as solid waste that has potential to be used as raw material for biogas production. The largest composition of biogas produced from fermentation is methane gas (CH4) and carbon dioxide gas (CO2). The main component contained in biogas is CH4 or methane gas which is suitable for fuel. In this case, the problems studied were how the performance of vehicle engines by utilizing biogas from sorghum raw materials. With the existing problems, it is expected that we can find out how the performance of vehicle engines is when using biogas. The advantage of biogas compared to fossil fuels is that it is environmentally friendly and renewable. This research was conducted to find out the performance of vehicles by varying its air fuel ratio (AFR) between biogas and air. Based on the results and analysis, it can be found that the maximum torque produced when using Biogas was 6.4 Nm with AFR 1: 4 at 4,500 rpm and the maximum torque produced when using gasoline was 7.8 Nm at 2nd gear 1,500 rpm but the use biogas can produce the same torque if AFR chance to 1:8 with the value of about 7.8 Nm at 2nd gear 1,500 rpm. The maximum power generated when using Biogas was 4.1 hp with AFR 1: 8 at 4,500 rpm and the maximum power generated when using gasoline is 5.5 hp at 3rd gear at 6,000 rpm. The minimum SFC produced when using biogas was 1.4 kg/kWh with AFR 1: 8 at 4,500 rpm and the minimum SFC produced when using gasoline was 0.03 kg/kWh in 3rd gear.