Use of Alcohols and Biofuels as Automotive Engine Fuel

Abstract

Ever-depleting reserves of fossil fuel have propelled researchers across the globe to look for alternative fuels. Also, ever-increasing pollution forces the engineers to develop cleaner technology and more efficient engines to meet the stringent demand of the modern automobile emission norms. To address both the above-said issues, the present-day researches focus on fossil fuel compensation with biofuel additives like alcohols for gasoline engine. The combined effect of alcohol blending and exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) can significantly improve the performance and emission of an SI engine. Recently, the use of ethanol for automotive engines has gained more importance, as it can be used in both SI and CI engines and reduces the engine emissions. Even the bioethanol derived from bio-wastes, known as second-generation ethanol, can be used as an alternative fuel for SI engines. It also helps in the proper disposal of tonnes of bio-waste which otherwise lies unused and pollutes the environment. Effect of ethanol blending on engine performance parameters like BSFC, BTE, EGT and engine emissions like CO, HC, NOx and CO2 is discussed in detail. Ethanol–gasoline blends result in reduced CO and HC emissions, whereas NOx emissions are sometimes reported higher. In this context, this article presents detailed information about the ethanol fuel, its synthesis, its utilization in SI engine and its influence on engine performance parameters.