Development of producer gas engines

Abstract

This paper summarizes the findings involved in the development of producer gas fuelled reciprocating engines over a time frame of six years. The high octane rating, ultra clean, and low-energy density producer gas derived from biomass has been examined. Development efforts are aimed at a fundamental level, wherein the parametric effects of the compression ratio and ignition timing on the power output are studied. These findings are subsequently applied in the adaptation of commercially available gas engines at two different power levels and make. Design of a producer gas carburettor also formed a part of this developmental activity. The successful operations with producer gas fuel have opened possibilities for adapting a commercially available gas engine for large-scale power generation application, albeit with a loss of power to an extent of 20–30 per cent. This loss in power is compensated to a much larger extent by the way toxic emissions are reduced; these technologies generate smaller amounts of toxic gases (low NOx and almost zero SOx), being zero for greenhouse gas (GHG).