Single Cylinder Spark Ignition Research Articles

The effect of additive on combustion characteristics and cycle to cycle variations on si engine fueled by gasoline and bioethanol

Currently, the main energy source is heavily dependent on fossil energy. The current transportation technology also uses fossil-derived energy sources to make vehicle engines are ignited. Also, the electricity that is currently enjoyed by billions of people resulted enormously from the use of fossil energy. Limitations of existing fossil energy sources and the issue of global warming have led many to expand on renewable energy and energy conservation to maintain energy availability. One of an alternative energy source that is currently being developed is the use of bioethanol as a mixture or replacement of fossil fuel. The use of bioethanol (C 2 H 5 OH) as a substitute for a mixture of fossil fuels affects the efficiency of the engine produced by fuel. This study examines the effect of a mixture of bioethanol gasoline (RON 80) on a single-cylinder spark ignition (SI) 125 cc engine that is carried out with variations in fuel mixtures (E0, E5, E10, and E15) with the addition of 0.5 vol % oxygenated cyclohexanol and this experimental test is carried out as much as 800 cycles for each fuel mixture, with throttle opening, maintained 100 %, and variations in engine speed at 4,000 rpm up to 8,500 rpm with engine speed increases every 500 rpm. Engine performance is measured by connecting a machine with a dynamometer, and the variation of cylinder pressure combustion is measured by a pressure transducer. The test results are expected to prove that the mixture of fuel with oxygenated cyclohexanol can reduce COV IMEP in the cycle to cycle variations (E10++ which is 4.24 %), so that torque fluctuations do not occur which results in reliable engine performance or vehicle driveability increase, besides that the performance of both power and torque becomes better

Experimental investigation for optimum compression ratio of single cylinder spark ignition engine

The present experimental investigation is intended to find the optimum compression ratio (CR) of single cylinder-spark ignition engine (SIE). In order to improve the performance characteristics of SIE includes improving brake thermal efficiency (BTE) and reducing brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) which represents the main targets of this study. The volume of combustion chamber was altered by changing the thickness of cylinder head gasket, and keeping other components, that form the geometry shape of combustion chamber, constant to obtain various clearance volume and consequently variable compression ratios (VCRs). This altering permitted to have different values of CRs of 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, and 8.7 at engine speeds of 2600 and 2800 rpm at different loads. The results showed that BTE was increased by an average of 13 % with increase of CR from 8.5 to 8.7 and it was decreased by an average of 7.5 % with decrease of CR from 8.5 to 7 at an average speed. Also, it was found that BSFC was decreased with an average of 11 % as CR was increased from 8.5 to 8.7, whereas BSFC was increased with an average of 4.5 % as CR was decreased from 8.5 to 7 at an average speed. Based on these results, it is clearly obvious that the optimum CR is 8.7.

Effect of water injection into the intake manifold on combustion and NOx emissions of CHP engine fuelled with natural gas

The impact of variable water injection by mass on nitrogen oxide emission and performance characteristics of combined heat and power single-cylinder spark ignition engine fuelled by natural gas under constant power was investigated. For each water/fuel ratio, the combustion phasing was varied by adjusting spark timing and mass of fuel injection to maintain the indicated mean effect pressure at 6.35 bar. It was reported that the nitrogen oxide emissions decreased with the same centre of combustion when the amount of injected water increases. The nitrogen oxide emission averagely decreased by 20–25%, depending on combustion phasing with water/fuel ratio 0.3 compared to 0. Furthermore, the centre of combustion between 15 and 19 °CA after top dead centre represents lower nitrogen oxide emissions. It was recorded that the spark timing had to be advanced with water injection to maintain the indicated mean effect pressure at 6.35 bar. Also, the results of the effects of intake manifold water injection system on performance, combustion and emissions at the lowest level of the nitrogen oxides have been presented. The thermal efficiency and indicated specific fuel consumption were improved with water injection at an operation point compared with a reference point. The maximum nitrogen oxide reduction depends on the maximum water injection rate which is limited by intake air characteristics. NOx emission for various WI rates over the centre of combustion CA50

Comparative analysis and performance of load bearing characteristics of biogas and gasoline-fuelled electric generator

ABSTRACT This research demonstrates a simplified purification of biogas from hybrid waste and conversion of a single cylinder spark ignition engine to use biogas. The scrubbed gas obtained showed 95% methane enriched biogas. The carburettor of the gasoline engine was modified with a tri-fuel carburettor to suit the input specimen fuel fed to the modified 2.5 kVA, 230 V, and 50 Hz reciprocating engine to generate power. Results showed that 1 kg of compressed biogas ran for 46 min with a load capacity of 1800 W on the 2.5 kVA modified generator, while a litre of gasoline ran for 72 min under the same loading capacity. A comparative assessment of the load bearing characteristics was conducted. Load condition exceeding 1000 W resulted in a voltage output drop of 14.25% on biogas while a small change in voltage of 0.06% occurred for loading conditions between 100 and 1000 W. There was 8.5% decrease in engine speed while operating on biogas with little or no change on gasoline. Maximum torque of 5 and 3.5 Nm at 1800 W electric loading was experienced for gasoline and biogas. Finally, the BSFC for gasoline and biogas at 15% loading condition was maximum at 2000 and 2400 kg/kWh, respectively.

Investigation of lubricant induced pre-ignition and knocking combustion in an optical spark ignition engine

An experimental study was performed to investigate lubricant oil induced pre-ignition and knocking combustion process in a single cylinder spark ignition (SI) engine with full bore overhead optical access. Lubricant oil was deliberately injected to the exhaust area through a specially modified direct injector to trigger the stochastic pre-ignition in a premixed air and fuel mixture. Simultaneous heat release analysis and high speed combustion imaging were used to study the pre-ignition and combustion processes. Outlier detection based on robust statistical methods was validated as an effective and efficient approach to identify sporadic pre-ignition. When pre-ignition occurred, the pre-ignited flame-front exhibited much faster propagating speed than that of the normal spark-ignited flame-front in the first stage of flame development. In several cycles, pre-ignition was followed by the pre-ignited propagating flame-front and then a separate spark-ignited flame-front before they subsequently merged together. In a few other cycles, pre-ignition led to heavy knocking combustion caused either by the auto-ignition close to the flame-front or near the cylinder wall, or both. The ultimate knock intensity of such cycles was determined by the timing, size, and location of end-gas auto-ignition of the unburned gas. Furthermore, optical detection of the oil droplet entrained combustion in the cycle subsequent to the knocking combustion cycle implied that high frequency oscillation pressure waves ejected lubricant from the piston-ring crevice.

Impact of changing combustion chamber geometry on emissions, and combustion characteristics of a single cylinder SI (spark ignition) engine fueled with ethanol/gasoline blends

The aim of this study was to investigate the range of opportunities and future prospects of presenting a blend of gasoline/ethanol fuel to run a gasoline engine. Biofuel’s advantages involve emission of low quantities of contaminants to the atmosphere and its renewable character in order to trim down dependency on gasoline as a fuel. Analyses have been carried out to show the influence of compression ratio on engine performance and tailpipe emissions by using unleaded gasoline and gasoline blends with (10 and 20%) pure ethanol SI (spark ignition) engine having a variable compression ratio with the air-cooled single-cylinder engine. Experiments were conducted on five different compression ratios (CRs) of 4:1, 5.5:1, 7:1 8.5:1, and 10:1 with a wide-open throttle. Two combinations of blended fuels were compared to the unleaded gasoline. The results showed that the BMEP (brake mean effective pressure), BTE (brake thermal efficiency), and BSFC (brake specific fuel consumption) obtained with the use of gasoline blends at all CRs were generally higher in comparison to those of pure gasoline. In general, gasoline blends provided a lower exhaust emission compared to gasoline’s emissions at all CRs. Furthermore, NOx emissions were affected much more than other exhaust emissions when changing the compression ratios compared to unleaded gasoline.

Effect of n-butanol fuel additive to methanol-gasoline blend on combustion and emission characteristics in a single cylinder spark ignition engine

Effect of n-butanol fuel additive to methanol-gasoline blend on combustion and emission characteristics in a single cylinder spark ignition engine

Research on hydrous ethanol stratified lean burn combustion in a DI spark-ignition engine

Fulfilling emission restrictions is the most challenging task considering future engine development. Stratified lean burn combustion mode associated with the use of biofuels has been widely studied to overcome current and future environmental regulation and global weather concerns. Power modulation by means of a throttle valve increases the pumping mean effective pressure with a corresponding penalty in engine fuel consumption at part load. De-throttling by means of direct injection (DI) is an attractive way of improving fuel economy and exhaust emissions at low and part load operation in spark-ignition (SI) engines. In this research, a study has been made of the investigations concerning stratified lean burn combustion in a wall-air guided type SI single cylinder optical research engine (SCORE) using Brazilian hydrous ethanol (E100) as fuel. Experiments were conducted at a constant load of 3 bar of net indicated mean effective pressure (NIMEP), for a wide range of injection, ignition and mixture formation parameters. Engine fuel conversion efficiency, combustion characteristics and emissions were evaluated for each excess air ratio (λ). Optical visualization illustrated the spray behavior and flame propagation. Specific fuel consumption and engine fuel conversion efficiency achieved an improvement of 8.1% and 2.6%, respectively, for λ = 1.4. Engine-out specific emissions were reduced by 66% for nitrogen oxides (NOx) and by 20% for total hydrocarbon (THC) and carbon dioxide (CO). A detailed combustion analysis based on in-cylinder pressure measurement was carried out and provided useful data for ethanol direct injection engine development.

A new quasi-dimensional flame tracking combustion model for spark ignition engines

A new quasi-dimensional combustion model based on the flame tracking approach is described and presented in the paper. The new quasi-dimensional flame tracking model is able to simulate the turbulent combustion process in premixed fuel/air/residual gas mixtures. A new method for the description of the geometry of the combustion chamber and flame front was developed enabling the visualisation of flame front movement across the combustion chamber. The control of local turbulence quantities in the flame front near the wall enables that the developed flame tracking model can predict the entire turbulent combustion process after the flame kernel development in spark-ignition engines without case-dependent calibration requirement. The developed quasi-dimensional combustion model was validated with the experimental and results of multidimensional model of a single cylinder spark ignition engine on averaged cycles. The model was integrated with the previously developed ignition, mixture stratification and cyclic variability sub-model that enable the simulation of cyclic combustion variability triggered by the stochastic variations of flow angle at the spark plug, mixture stratification and in-cylinder turbulence level. Due to the novelty of the model which includes the control of local integral length scale and turbulent kinetic energy in the flame segments the predictive capability of quasi-dimensional model is achieved with the application of single set of parameters related to average cycle and cyclic combustion variability. Flame tracking model with the low computational time represents a promising tool to calculate the turbulent combustion process including cyclic combustion variability in modern spark ignition engines.

Study of Spark-Ignition Engine Fueled with Hydrogen Produced by the Reaction Between Aluminum and Water in Presence of KOH

Hydrogen is seen as one of the important energy vectors of the century. There are several alternatives procedures to produce it in high purity; aluminum corrosion could be considered as one of the most attractive ones. The use of hydrogen derived with this process in spark-ignition engines forms a promising approach to decarbonize hydrogen production and secure domestic energy supply. This study describes the development of an experimental setup for hydrogen production and testing a SI engine in the hydrogen-fueled mode. This paper investigates the effect of aluminum thickness (specific surface) and alkali concentration on the reaction rate. The experimental results show that an increase in alkali concentration and a reduction in aluminum thickness increase hydrogen production rate. The produced hydrogen was used as fuel for a single-cylinder spark-ignition engine. The experiments were conducted under various engine speeds. It is found that hydrogen combustion produces a lower exhaust gas temperature than gasoline, although $$\hbox {NO}_{{x}}$$ emissions decrease about 11 times compared to gasoline. It was expected that CO, $$\hbox {CO}_{2}$$ and HC levels are zero when the engine is supplied with hydrogen, but it is found that there is a slight trace of CO, $$\hbox {CO}_{2}$$ and HC due to combustion and evaporation of lubricant on cylinder walls.

Analysis of emission gas and fuel consumption on SI engine fueled with low-grade bioethanol and oxygenated cycloheptanol additive

The use of alternative energy source is expected to reduce fossil energy consumption and exhaust emissions. One of the non-fossil energy alternatives introduced for vehicles is bioethanol, it can produce in a simple way and cheap. Low-grade bioethanol has characteristics that depend on exhaust emissions generated. Low-grade bioethanol can be used as a substitute or mixture of fuel. The mixture of bioethanol and gasoline gives an effect to the increase of octane number and reduces the emission of CO2 produces. To get a more optimum effect on fuel consumption and emission, the oxygenated additive can be added to the fuel mixture. In this study, the effect of fuel consumption and emission was carried out by comparison of E5, E10, E15 without additive and with additive oxygenated cycloheptanol. The test will be performed by the method of calculating the amount of fuel consumption against the time to get specific fuel consumption. Emission test will be performed in single cylinder spark-ignition (SI) engine 150cc premix fuel with 100% opening throttle position connected to the gas analyzer in variation speed engine to see the emission gas. This study aims to obtain reduce the emission gas (CO2 and CO) and fuel consumption with the addition of the oxygenated additive.

Performance and emission analysis of single cylinder SI engine using bioethanol-gasoline blend produced from Salvinia Molesta

Rapid depletion of world’s crude oil reserve, rising global energy demand and concerns about greenhouse gases emission have led to the high-level interest in biofuels. The biofuel, bioethanol is found as an alternative fuel for SI engines as it has similar properties those of gasoline. Higher areal productivity with fast growth rate of microalgae and aquatic weeds makes them promising alternative feedstocks for bioethanol production. In this study, bioethanol produced from S.molesta (aquatic weed) using combined pre-treatment and hydrolysis followed by fermentation with yeast was used to make bioethanol-gasoline blend. The quantity of bioethanol produced from S.molesta was 99.12% pure. The physical properties such as density and heating value of bioethanol were 792.2 kg/m3 and 26.12 MJ/kg, respectively. In this work, the effects of bioethanol-gasoline (E5) fuel blends on the performance and combustion characteristics of a spark ignition (SI) engine were investigated. In the experiments, a single-cylinder, four-stroke SI engine was used. The tests were performed using electric dynamometer while running the engine at the speed (3200 rpm), and seven different load (0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5 and 3 kW). The results obtained from the use of bioethanol-gasoline fuel blends were compared to those of gasoline fuel. The test results showed an increase of 0.3% in brake thermal efficiency for E5. From the emission analysis, reduced emissions of 39 ppm unburned hydrocarbon, 1.55% carbon monoxide and 2% smoke opacity, respectively was observed with E5 at full load. An increase in CO2 by 0.17% and NOx by 86.7 ppm was observed for E5 at full load.

Comparative Parametric and Emission Characteristics of Single Cylinder Spark Ignition Engine Using Gasoline, Ethanol, and H₂O as Micro Emulsion Fuels

Comparative Parametric and Emission Characteristics of Single Cylinder Spark Ignition Engine Using Gasoline, Ethanol, and H₂O as Micro Emulsion Fuels

Comparative Parametric and Emission Characteristics of Single Cylinder Spark Ignition Engine Using Gasoline, Ethanol, and H₂O as Micro Emulsion Fuels

Comparative Parametric and Emission Characteristics of Single Cylinder Spark Ignition Engine Using Gasoline, Ethanol, and H₂O as Micro Emulsion Fuels

Effect of ignition timing on engine characteristics of a single cylinder spark ignition engine with CNG fueled

This article shows an investigated research on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) engine with a port injection when varying ignition timing. The obtained results from simulating study have indicated that both of brake thermal efficiency and torque have a similar trend when varying ignition timing. The effect of ignition timing on the value of brake thermal efficiency is stronger in comparison with torque, however, the increase in engine speed or lambda value have to adjust the ignition timing more early. To reach the maximum break torque at each engine speed, the ignition timing should be adjusted IT = 14 - 32 bTDC, and this is also basic value to design the ignition timing system using CNG engine with port injection.

The Application of Artificial Neural Network in Prediction of the Performance of Spark Ignition Engine Running on Ethanol-Petrol Blends

The performance analysis of a single cylinder spark ignition engine fuelled with ethanol – petrol blends were carried out successfully at constant load conditions. E0 (Petrol), E10 (10% Ethanol, 90% Petrol), E20 (20% Ethanol, 80% Petrol) and E30 (30% Ethanol, 70% Petrol) were used as fuel. The Engine speed, mass flow rate, combustion efficiency, maximum pressure developed, brake specific fuel consumption and Exhaust gas temperature values were measured during the experiment. Using the experimental data, a Levenberg Marquardt Artificial Neural Network algorithm and Logistic sigmoid activation transfer function with a 4–10–2 model was developed to predict the brake specific fuel consumption, maximum pressure and combustion efficiency of G200 IMEX spark ignition engine using the recorded engine speed, mass flow rate, biofuels ratio and exhaust gas temperature as input variables. The performance of the Artificial Neural Network was validated by comparing the predicted data with the experimental results. The results showed that the training algorithm of Levenberg Marquardt was sufficient enough in predicting the brake specific fuel consumption, combustion pressure and combustion efficiency of the test engine. Correlation coefficient values of 0.974, 0.996 and 0.995 were obtained for brake specific fuel consumption, combustion efficiency and pressure respectively. These correlation coefficient obtained for the output parameters are very close to one (1) showing good correlation between the Artificial Neural Network predicted results and the experimental data while the Mean Square Errors were found to be very low (0.00018825 @ epoch 10 for brake specific fuel consumption, 1.0023 @ epoch 3 for combustion efficiency and 0.0013284@ epoch 5 for in-cylinder pressure). Therefore, Artificial Neural Network toolbox called up from MATLAB proved to be a useful tool for simulation of engine parameters. Artificial Neural Network model provided accurate analysis of these complex problems and has been found to be very useful for predicting the performance of the spark ignition engine. Thus, this has proved that Artificial Neural Network model could be used for predicting performance values in internal combustion engines, in this way it would be possible to conduct time and cost efficient studies instead of long experimental ones.

Evaluation of performance and emissions characteristics of methanol blend (gasohol) in a naturally aspirated spark ignition engine

Alternative fuels for use in internal combustion engines have become recently in attention due the strict regulations regarding the environmental protection, emissions and to reduce the dependency of the fossil fuels. One choice is the use of methanol as it can be produce from renewable sources and blended with gasoline in any proportion. The aim of this study is to compare the effects of methanol – gasoline blends regarding performance, combustion and emission characteristics with gasoline. Five different blends M5, M10, M15, M20 and M25 were tested in a single cylinder spark ignition engine typically used in scooters applications. The experimental results in engine performance show a decrease of torque and power up to 10 %and in emissions characteristics a CO, CO2, HC. It can be concluded that gasohol is viable option to be used in gasoline engines to replace partially the fossil fuel.

The Application of Artificial Neural Network in Prediction of the Performance of Spark Ignition Engine Running on Ethanol-Petrol Blends

The performance analysis of a single cylinder spark ignition engine fuelled with ethanol – petrol blends were carried out successfully at constant load conditions. E0 (Petrol), E10 (10% Ethanol, 90% Petrol), E20 (20% Ethanol, 80% Petrol) and E30 (30% Ethanol, 70% Petrol) were used as fuel. The Engine speed, mass flow rate, combustion efficiency, maximum pressure developed, brake specific fuel consumption and Exhaust gas temperature values were measured during the experiment. Using the experimental data, a Levenberg Marquardt Artificial Neural Network algorithm and Logistic sigmoid activation transfer function with a 4–10–2 model was developed to predict the brake specific fuel consumption, maximum pressure and combustion efficiency of G200 IMEX spark ignition engine using the recorded engine speed, mass flow rate, biofuels ratio and exhaust gas temperature as input variables. The performance of the Artificial Neural Network was validated by comparing the predicted data with the experimental results. The results showed that the training algorithm of Levenberg Marquardt was sufficient enough in predicting the brake specific fuel consumption, combustion pressure and combustion efficiency of the test engine. Correlation coefficient values of 0.974, 0.996 and 0.995 were obtained for brake specific fuel consumption, combustion efficiency and pressure respectively. These correlation coefficient obtained for the output parameters are very close to one (1) showing good correlation between the Artificial Neural Network predicted results and the experimental data while the Mean Square Errors were found to be very low (0.00018825 @ epoch 10 for brake specific fuel consumption, 1.0023 @ epoch 3 for combustion efficiency and 0.0013284@ epoch 5 for in-cylinder pressure). Therefore, Artificial Neural Network toolbox called up from MATLAB proved to be a useful tool for simulation of engine parameters. Artificial Neural Network model provided accurate analysis of these complex problems and has been found to be very useful for predicting the performance of the spark ignition engine. Thus, this has proved that Artificial Neural Network model could be used for predicting performance values in internal combustion engines, in this way it would be possible to conduct time and cost efficient studies instead of long experimental ones.

PIV measurements and numerical analysis of in-cylinder tumble flow in a motored engine

The purpose of this study is to present an experimental methodology and a numerical analysis to characterize the in-cylinder tumbling flow generated by a motored four-valve spark ignition single-cylinder optical engine. High-speed two-dimensional particle image velocimetry measurements were made in the symmetry vertical plane between the inlet and outlet valves. The velocity flow fields were recorded during the intake and compression strokes for three different engine speeds (1000, 1500, and 2000 rpm) at several crank angles. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were carried out using the Star-CD software with es-ICE module, and the two different turbulence models, RNG–k–e and k–w SST, were analyzed with experimental data of the engine running at 1000 rpm in motored conditions. Regarding experimental results, vorticity, tumble ratio, and kinetic energy were calculated and compared. The initially large mean kinetic energy and tumble ratio, which is caused by the high-velocity jets of the inlet valves and in-cylinder bulk flow, decrease during intake in response to the piston motion. The air jet entering the cylinder space strikes the piston top surface generating a counter-clockwise rotating tumble vortex. Flow field cyclic variation could be noticed and quantified. In addition, an evolution analysis of the main vortex center and engine speed influence were made. Moreover, a qualitative analysis of the CFD scalar flow field in the region of interest is presented. The numerical results showed a better agreement with the RNG–k–e and experimental mean velocity magnitude curve than k–ω–SST. However, the qualitative scalar velocity field of the k–ω model captured more details of the flow than the k–e model. The methodology contributes to a better understanding of flow motion behavior, piston speed and valve timing influences, and, consequently, the mixture formation process in spark ignition engines.

Performance, emission and combustion characteristics of a single cylinder spark ignition engine using ethanol–petrol-blended fuels

ABSTRACTThe performance, exhaust emission and combustion analyses of a single cylinder spark ignition engine fuelled with extended range of ethanol–petrol blends were carried out successfully at full load conditions. Ethanol produced from raffia trunks was blended with petrol at different proportions by volume. In order to establish a baseline for comparison, the engine was first run on neat petrol. The engine performance parameters (engine torque, brake power, brake specific fuel consumption, brake mean effective pressure and brake thermal efficiency), exhaust emission parameters (CO, HC, CO2 and O2 emissions) and combustion parameters were determined for each blend of fuel at different engine speeds. The test results interestingly revealed that the addition of ethanol to petrol causes an improvement in combustion characteristics and significant reduction in exhaust emissions which in turn improved engine performance. In all, ethanol and its blends with petrol exhibited performance characteristics trends similar to that of petrol thus confirming them as suitable alternative fuels for spark ignition engines.