Study of combustion and emission of a SI engine at various CR fuelled with different ratios of biobutanol/hydrogen fuel

Abstract

The global requirement is shifting to territorial independence of energy sources, and the introduction of alcohols and biofuels are the primary sectors. Recently agriculture products-based ethanol has replaced a larger portion of gasoline. Butanol is another impressive fuel in the same chain, much better than ethanol in many parameters. Butanol has certain limitations, too, such as higher latent heat and low heating value. Therefore, biobutanol/hydrogen is tested experimentally at various compression ratios (CR) in the present study. Brake thermal efficiency was not significantly changed by CR at 90% butanol, while CR is more impressive with increasing hydrogen. The flame development period was reduced by 34%, while the flame propagation phase was reduced by 29% by increasing CR to 15 and hydrogen to 25%. Peak pressure and heat release rate surged by 12.89% and 12.32% and advanced by 6°CA. The coefficient of variations is also reduced by 21% by increasing CR to 15 and hydrogen to 30%. Higher hydrogen faced combustion difficulties due to increasing stratification and heterogeneity during combustion. Unlikely to trend, Tmax (peak cylinder temperature) and NOx were continuously increased with CR and hydrogen due to increased fuel quantity and larger mass burning before TDC. However, CO and HC emissions were reduced by CR due to increased BTE (brake thermal efficiency) and reduced by hydrogen due to less HC supply. A slight increase in HC and CO was noticed for higher hydrogen due to local heterogeneity and disassociation at high temperatures.