Effect of Methanol Additive with LPG in Three Cylinder Four Stroke S.I. Engine

Abstract

LPG is a mixture of gas, mainly propane and butane. It is commonly used as a fuel for cooking and as a transportation fuel. It is normally created as a by-product of petroleum refining and from the production of Natural Gas. An experiment is conducted to obtain the operating characteristics of the four stroke three cylinder inline water cooled spark ignition engine operated with LPG and methanol. The engine is started with LPG and methanol with various ratios at constant volume rate in the vaporizer. Solenoid valve was used to allow either LPG or petrol in the carburetor. The LPG supplied through the vaporizer and the quantity is metered by hanging type weighing scale. The additives are added with LPG before supplied to the vaporizer. The performance characteristics of engine were analyzed using petrol with increase in load. Further the engine run with LPG and adjusts the flow based on the mixing of additives. The best ratio of additives can be selected based on the experimental results obtained in the engine.The findings of the present research work suggest that optimum % of methanol as additive to increase the overall performance and to reduce the emission levels.