Ethanol Fumigation of a Compression-Ignition Engine Using Advanced Injection of Diesel Fuel

Abstract

ABSTRACT THIS paper describes the modification and testing of a compression ignition engine using diesel and fumigated ethanol as fuel. Tests on the engine fueled with diesel only were made, and the performance evaluated to form a basis for comparison for those of ethanol-diesel dual fueling. Modifications were made in the introduction of the ethanol and air and in the diesel injection timing. Both the ethanol flow rate and diesel injection timing were varied in order to observe the trend in the engine performance and to determine the preferred combinations of settings for ethanol utilization. Performance was evaluated in terms of brake thermal efficiency. Ethanol-air mixing greatly improved the performance even at the optimum injection timing for 100% diesel operation. Performance at advanced timings was better than that of diesel provided the correct fueling rates were used. Generally, for increased performance the ethanol flow rates should increase with timing advance. No study was made on the long term effects of ethanol fuel on the engine.