The performance and emission characteristics of C1-C5 alcohol-gasoline blends with matched oxygen content in a single-cylinder spark ignition engine

Abstract

Alcohols with carbon numbers ranging from C1 to C5 were individually blended with unleaded test gasoline. All the alcohol-gasoline blends had the same oxygen mass content. The performance characteristics of the blends were quantified using a single-cylinder spark ignition engine. The knock-limiting spark timing was determined by analysis of the third derivative of the measured in-cylinder gas pressure versus crank angle. The engine operating conditions were optimized for each (C1-C5) blend with two different values of matched oxygen mass content (2.5 and 5.0 per cent). Emission mass rates of carbon monoxide (CO), nitric oxides (NOx), total unburned hydrocarbons (THCs), alcohols and aldehydes were quantified. The brake power specific rate emissions were compared with that of neat gasoline. Adding lower alcohols (C1, C2 and C3) to gasoline improved the knock resistance. Further improvement was achieved by increasing the oxygen content of the fuel blend. Blends with higher alcohols (C4 and C5) showed degraded knock resistance when compared with neat gasoline. Generally, all alcohol-gasoline blends showed reduction in CO emissions. Higher alcohol-gasoline blends with an oxygen mass content of 5.0 per cent showed a pronounced increase in NOx emission rates when operating at high compression ratios and 5° before top dead centre timing. This is attributed to their lower enthalpy of vaporization and higher flame temperature. All blends tested at optimized operating conditions showed reduction in THC emission rates. Unburned alcohol emission rates were higher for blends with higher content of alcohol, and aldehyde emissions were higher for all blends with formaldehyde as the main constituent.