Experimental investigation on the potential of biogas/ethanol dual-fuel spark-ignition engine for power generation: Combustion, performance and pollutant emission analysis. (1st March 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: da Costa, Roberto Berlini Rodrigues; Valle, Ramón Molina; Hernández, Juan J.; Malaquias, Augusto César Teixeira; Coronado, Christian J.R.; Pujatti, Fabrício José Pacheco
• Is Part Of: Applied energy. Volume 261(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-03-01
• Subjects: Dual-fuel combustion -- Biogas -- Bioethanol -- SI engine; Biogas_E100 fuel mixture for dual-fuel operation with biogas and ethanol -- CA crank angle degree -- CH4 methane -- CNG compressed natural gas -- CNG_E100 fuel mixture for dual-fuel operation with CNG and ethanol -- CO carbon monoxide -- CO2 carbon dioxide -- COVIMEP IMEP covariance -- CR compression ratio -- DI direct injection -- E100 sugarcane derived Brazilian hydrous ethanol -- EF biogas energy fraction -- EGR exhaust gas recirculation -- EOC end of combustion -- HC unburnt hydrocarbons -- HRR heat release rate -- IMEP net indicated mean effective pressure -- ISCO indicated specific CO emission -- ISCO2 indicated specific CO2 emission -- ISEC indicated specific energy consumption -- ISNOx indicated specific NOx emission -- ISHC indicated specific HC emission -- KLSAT knock limited spark advance timing -- LHV lower heating value -- ṁ fuel mass flow rate -- MBF mass burnt fraction -- ɳc indicated combustion efficiency -- ɳf indicated fuel conversion efficiency -- NOx nitrogen oxide -- p pressure -- Pind indicated power -- PFI port-fuel injection -- Qt apparent total liquid heat release -- SAT spark advance timing -- SCRE single-cylinder research engine -- SI spark-ignition -- SOC start of combustion -- TDC top dead center -- WOT wide-open throttle -- λ Lambda factor – excess air ratio -- ɣ ratio of specific heats -- ∀ volume; Power (Mechanics) -- Periodicals; Energy conservation -- Periodicals; Energy conversion -- Periodicals; 621.042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2019.114438
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-2619

Abstract

Highlights: Biogas/ethanol dual-fuel improved combustion phasing. Dual-fuel inhibited knock occurrence at full load condition. Combustion efficiency was enhanced due to the lower HC and CO pollutant emission. NOx reductions of up to 30% were achieved compared to pure ethanol operation. Fuel conversion efficiency increased when dual mode was used. Abstract: Dual-fuel mode in internal combustion engines has been proved as a potential technique for either achieving near-zero pollutant emissions through fuel reactivity modifications or reducing carbon dioxide (CO2 ) emissions by partially replacing a fossil fuel by a renewable one. This manuscript presents an experimental study of a dual-fuel engine fueled with two biofuels, biogas and bioethanol, for two liquid fuel replacements of 20 and 50% by energy. Tests were performed in a spark-ignition single-cylinder engine with a modified compression ratio, under different engine speeds (1800 and 3600 rpm) and loads (4 bar of IMEP and full load condition). Results show that dual-fuel mode accelerated the combustion rate when compared to biogas single-fuel operation and increased combustion completeness, leading to reduced carbon monoxide (CO) and unburnt hydrocarbon (HC) pollutant emissions, thus, improving combustion efficiency. At full load conditions, dual-fuel mode suppressed knock occurrence and raised the load limit for 20% biogas energy fraction when compared to ethanol single-fuel condition. Moreover, nitrogen oxides (NOx ) emissions were decreased in dual-fuel mode (comparing to ethanol) and fuel conversion efficiencies enhanced considerably. The innovative approach of combining two promising renewable fuels proved to be a very effective methodology in reducing exhaust pollutant emissions and increase engine overall efficiency.