Chapter 8 - Ethanol as Internal Combustion Engine Fuel

Abstract

This chapter introduces ethanol as internal combustion engine fuel. First, some general facts about ethanol fuels and engines are given. Next, a full discussion on diesel engines, four-stroke spark ignition engines, and two-stroke spark ignition engines follows to bring forth both positive and negative aspects concerning the use of ethanol fuel and low-grade ethanol fuel. The wearing of engine's subsystems, engine combustion process, and exhaust gas characteristics are discussed in greater detail. The chapter is divided into three subchapters, the first of which deals with ethanol as engine fuel, brings out different types of ethanol that are being used as engine fuel, and provides an overview of the use of ethanol fuel in different engines. At this point, the dosing of ethanol air–fuel mixture in the engine is covered. In the second subchapter, an overview of the use of ethanol as diesel engine fuel is provided, and the combustion process and the impact of ethanol on a diesel engine are described. The third subchapter focuses on the impact of ethanol on the efficiency and economic characteristics and exhaust gas emission of a spark ignition engine. The third subchapter is divided into two parts as they cover the use of ethanol as the fuel of a four-stroke spark ignition engine and two-stroke spark ignition engine correspondingly. Dividing the chapter into three subchapters will hopefully contribute to the better understanding of different possibilities of using ethanol in diesel and spark ignition engines. Providing an overview of the fuels that can generally be used as internal combustion engine fuels is also considered important. Therefore, a short account of ethanol as engine fuel is given in the first subchapter.