An Experimental Investigation of the Effects of Acetone, Tetrahydrofuran and N-heptane Fuel Blends on HCCI Combustion and Engine Performance

Abstract

In the current study, a single cylinder, four stroke gasoline engine was converted to HCCI engine. HCCI engine was run at 1400 rpm, between λ=1.9 and λ=2.74 lambda values with n-heptane, acetone/n-heptane (A20N80) and tetrahydrofuran/n-heptane (F20N80) fuel blends at full load. The effects of tetrahydrofuran and acetone fuel addition on combustion characteristics and engine performance were researched. Combustion characteristics and engine performance were observed and compared with n-heptane. Knocking was seen with n-heptane and F20N80 with richer mixtures (λ=1.9 ve λ=1.92). But, knocking tendency reduced with the usage of A20N80 and HCCI engine was stably run. In-cylinder pressure and heat release rate decreased with leaner charge mixture for all test fuels. In addition, combustion was delayed and HC was reduced with leaner charge mixtures. As a result, it was seen that stable HCCI combustion could be achieved with alternative fuel and operating range of HCCI engine can be expanded at misfiring and knocking zones.

Keywords

• Homogeneous Charged Compression Ignition
• Engine Performance
• Alternative Fuel