Experimental Investigation of Diluents Components on Performance and Emissions of a High Compression Ratio Methanol SI Engine

Abstract

Increasing compression ratio and using lean burn are two effective techniques for improving engine performance. Methanol has a wide range of sources and is a kind of suitable fuel for a high-compression ratio spark-ignition lean burn engine. Lean burn mainly has a dilution effect, thermal effect and chemical effect. To clarify the influences of different effects and provide guidance for improving composition of dilution gases and applications of this technology, this paper chose Ar, N2 and CO2 as diluents. A spark-ignition methanol engine modified from a diesel engine with a compression ratio of 17.5 was used for the experiments. The results obtained by using methanol spark ignition combustion indicated that at engine speed of 1400 rpm and 25% load, NOx dropped by up to 77.5%, 100% and 100% by Ar, CO2 and N2. Gases with higher specific heat ratio and lower heat capacity represented by Ar exhibited the least adverse effect on combustion and showed a downward break-specific fuel consumption (BSFC) trend. Gas with high specific heat capacity represented by CO2 can decrease NOx and total hydro carbons (THC) emissions at the same time, but the BSFC of CO2 showed the worst trend, followed by N2. Gas affecting the combustion process like CO2 had chemical effect.

Keywords

• methanol
• lean-burn
• high compression ratio
• diluent
• emissions
• combustion