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An evaluation of combustion aspects with different compression ratios, fuel types and injection systems in a single-cylinder research engine

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Journal of the Brazilian Society of Mechanical Sciences and Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The growing commercialization of flex-fuel vehicles in Brazil demands the optimization of internal combustion engines for the operation with ethanol (E100) and gasohol (E22), in an attempt to reduce the fuel consumption and minimize the pollutant emissions into the atmosphere. In this sense, this work proposes the study of different volumetric compression ratios in a single-cylinder research engine in order to conclude about its fuel conversion efficiency and, in particular, a more detailed combustion investigation for two of the most common Brazilian fuels. Dynamometric bench tests were performed for distinct compression ratios, injection systems and fuel types, which demanded a specific piston design to meet the requirements for each combustion chamber configuration. The use of ethanol was the most suitable when compared to gasohol, especially at high load conditions, in which was observed a knock tendency for E22 but not for E100, due to its improved physicochemical properties, resulting in enhanced combustion aspects. The proposed methodology proved effective in allowing fuel conversion efficiency gains for the tested fuels, injection systems and piston designs when compared to the engine baseline operation, with up to 6.1% improvement when using the most appropriate compression ratio. Finally, the ethanol direct injection confirmed the potential of this Brazilian biofuel as one of the most promising renewable options for internal combustion engines in current and future sustainable energy directives.

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Abbreviations

ABDC:

After bottom dead center

APMAX:

Angle of maximum pressure (°)

ATDC:

After top dead center

BBDC:

Before bottom dead center

BMEP:

Brake mean effective pressure (bar)

BTDC:

Before top dead center

CA:

Crank angle

CO2 :

Carbon dioxide

COV:

Covariance (%)

CR:

Compression ratio

DI:

Direct injection

E100:

Ethanol

E22:

Gasohol (22% ethanol content)

E27:

Gasohol (27% ethanol content)

GHG:

Greenhouse gases

ICE:

Internal combustion engine

IMEP:

Indicated mean effective pressure (bar)

ISFC:

Indicated specific fuel consumption (g/kWh)

KP_PK:

Knock peak parameter

LCV:

Lower heating value (kJ/kg)

MBF:

Mass burned fraction (%)

MBT:

Maximum brake torque

PFI:

Port fuel injection

SCRE:

Single-cylinder research engine

WOT:

Wide-opened throttle

λ:

Lambda factor

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the Mobility Technology Center (Centro de Tecnologia da Mobilidade, CTM – UFMG) for providing the experimental structure for this research and to keep investing in R&D of internal combustion engines, especially those fueled with ethanol, a Brazilian renewable energy matrix.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Engenharia Mecânica, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Centro de Tecnologia da Mobilidade (CTM-UFMG), Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil

    Augusto César Teixeira Malaquias, Nilton Antonio Diniz Netto, Alysson Fernandes Teixeira, Sérgio Augusto Passos Costa & José Guilherme Coelho Baêta

  2. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia Mecânica, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (PPGMEC-UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil

    Augusto César Teixeira Malaquias

  3. Universidade Federal de Itajubá, Av. BPS 1303, Itajubá, MG, 37500-903, Brazil

    Roberto Berlini Rodrigues da Costa

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  1. Augusto César Teixeira Malaquias
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  2. Nilton Antonio Diniz Netto
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  3. Roberto Berlini Rodrigues da Costa
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Correspondence to Augusto César Teixeira Malaquias.

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Malaquias, A.C.T., Netto, N.A.D., da Costa, R.B.R. et al. An evaluation of combustion aspects with different compression ratios, fuel types and injection systems in a single-cylinder research engine. J Braz. Soc. Mech. Sci. Eng. 42, 497 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40430-020-02575-0

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