USE OF ETHANOL IN COMPRESSION IGNITION ENGINE

Abstract

The widespread use of diesel engines in the farm community coupled with the capability to produce fuel grade Ethanol from farm grains has generated extensive research into the use of ethanol as an alternate diesel fuel. Since ethanol`s basic combustion characteristics and consequent low cetane number make it a poor diesel fuel when directly injected into diesel engines, most studies have emphasized either mixtures of Ethanol and diesel fuel or dual fueling systems such as fumigation of the Ethanol with the inducted air charge.

An unmodified single cylinder, four stroke, direct injection, and water cooled natural aspirated vertical compression ignition, typical to engines used in the agricultural sector (Pumps, tractors)was fuelled with ethanol and diesel blend at different ratios in the current performance and emission studies.

Engine performance and emission characteristics have been investigated and significant improvements were observed in maximum thermal efficiency, in minimum brake specific energy consumption and considerable improvement in smoke opacity was observed compared to that of diesel.