This study is concerned with investigating experimentally the effects of methanol blending to base gasoline on the performance and fuel cost of a spark ignition (SI) engine. The fuel blends were prepared by blending 5, 10, 15, and 20 vol % of methanol with a specified amount of base gasoline. These fuel blends were designated as M5, M10, M15, and M20, respectively. Base, leaded, and unleaded gasolines were also used in the study. The experiments were conducted under various engine speeds, spark timings (STs), and compression ratios (CRs). The engine was operated under wide-open-throttle (WOT) conditions. The result of the study showed that the M5 blend yields the best engine performance in terms of the brake mean effective pressure (bmep), while the M20 blend suggests the best performance in terms of brake thermal efficiency (bte). The economical analysis performed in the study is based on both the current blending fuel prices in Turkey and brake-specific fuel consumption (bsfc) of the engine while using base gasoline and gasoline−methanol blends. It was obtained that, in contrast to the improvement of engine performance, methanol blending caused an increase in the consumed fuel cost because of the expensive methanol price in Turkey. The increments in the cost of the fuel blends compared to base gasoline were determined as 18.86, 36.95, 54.20, and 73.01% for M5, M10, M15, and M20, respectively. Uncertainty analysis was also performed in this study, and it was found that the uncertainties in the measurement devices do not have noticeable influences on the variations of engine characteristics.
This study was compiled from the results of various researches performed on using diethyl ether as a fuel or fuel additive in diesel engines. Three different techniques are used, the reduction of the harmful exhaust emissions of diesel engines. The first technique for the reduction of harmful emissions has improved the combustion by modification of engine design and fuel injection system, but this process is expensive and time-consuming. The second technique is the use of various exhaust gas devices like catalytic converter and diesel particulate filter. However, the use of these devices affects negatively diesel engine performance. The final technique to reduce emissions and also improve diesel engine performance is the use of various alternative fuels or fuel additives. The major pollutants of diesel engines are nitrogen oxides and particulate matter. It is very difficult to reduce nitrogen oxides and particulate matter emissions simultaneously in practice. Most researches declare that the best way to reduce these emissions is the use of various alternative fuels i.e. natural gas, biogas, biodiesel, or the use of fuel additives with these alternative fuels or conventional diesel fuel. Therefore, it is very important that the results of various studies on alternative fuels or fuel additives are evaluated together for practice applications. Especially, this study focuses on the use of diethyl ether in diesel engines as fuel or fuel additive in various diesel engine fuels. This review study investigates the effects of diethyl ether on the fuel properties, injection, and combustion characteristics.
This study aims at investigating experimentally the effects of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE)−gasoline blends on the performance and CO emissions of a spark ignition engine. The blends are prepared by blending 5, 10, 15, and 20 vol % of MTBE with a specified amount of base gasoline. Base, leaded, and unleaded gasolines are also used in the study. The experiments were conducted under various engine speeds, spark timings, and compression ratios. The engine was operated under wide open throttle conditions. The results of the study show that a 10 vol % of MTBE addition to the base gasoline yields the best engine performance and the least CO emissions while the blend containing 15% MTBE and 85% base gasoline suggests the best performance in terms of the brake thermal efficiency.
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