Characterisation of spark plug deposits of an SI engine fuelled with gasoline-ethanol blends. Issue 1 (31st December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kushwaha, Garima; Saraswati, Samir; Paul, Bireswar
• Is Part Of: International journal of ambient energy. Volume 43:Issue 1(2022)
• Page Start: 5309
• Page End: 5317
• Publication Date: 2022-12-31
• Subjects: Gasoline -- ethanol -- carbon deposits -- spark plug -- scanning electron microscopy; Power resources -- Periodicals; Renewable energy sources -- Periodicals; 621.04205
• DOI: 10.1080/01430750.2021.1946142
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0143-0750

Abstract

Abstract : This work investigates the effect of gasoline-ethanol blends on spark plug deposits. The mass of deposits rapidly increases in all blends at first, then stabilises to an equilibrium state. The steady-state deposit mass for fuel E0, E5, E10, and E15 is found to be 1.0994, 1.6890, 2.2432, and 3.1420 g, respectively. The scanning electron microscope results show that the deposits are porous and formed by agglomeration of fine particles. However, as the ethanol fraction increases, the microstructures of the deposits become denser and more compact. The maximum particle diameter for E0 is found to be 5.71 μm while it increases to 13.61 μm for E15. The energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy results show the presence of metal elements such as iron, zinc, aluminium, copper, and nickel, and other elements such as calcium, phosphorus, sulphur, and sodium. The deposits conductive in nature promote the chance of side sparking.