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Experiments were conducted on a single cylinder SI engine fuelled by natural gas. Equivalence ratios varying from 0.7 to 1.0 were used and the spark timing was changed from no knock to high knock conditions. Pressure crank angle data from 160 consecutive cycles was analysed. It was found that coefficient of variation of peak pressure (COVPP) and standard deviation of the angle of occurrence of peak pressure (SDAPP) can be used to set the engine for knock free operation. These parameters show a sudden rise from a minimum value that they attain near a spark timing where knock sets in. When the average knock intensity is low, there are two groups of cycles. The first comprises of non-knocking to slightly knocking ones. The other contains cycles with relatively high knock intensity. The sudden emergence of two groups is responsible for the observed trends of SDAPP. At high overall knock intensities the first group is absent.

A diesel engine was operated with karanja oil, bio-diesel obtained from karanja oil (BDK) and diesel as pilot fuels while LPG was used as primary fuel. LPG supply was varied from zero to the maximum value that the engine could tolerate. The engine output was kept at different constant levels of 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of full load. The thermal efficiency improved at high loads. Smoke level was reduced drastically at all loads. CO and HC levels were reduced at full load. There was a slight increase in the NO level. Combustion parameters indicated an increase in the ignition delay. Peak pressure and rate of pressure rise were not unfavorably affected. There was an increase in the peak heat release rate with LPG induction. The amount of LPG that could be tolerated with out knock at full load was 49%, 53% and 61% on energy basis with karanja oil, BDK and diesel as pilots.

The increasing use of natural gas as a vehicle fuel has generated considerable research activity to characterize the performance of engines utilizing this fuel. A light duty prechamber diesel engine was run under naturally aspirated and turbocharged CNG- Diesel dual fuel mode at four engine speeds 1100, 1400, 1700 and 2000 rpm. The maximum percentage of CNG substitution continues up to the engine knock limited power. The experimental results indicate a fall in brake power under naturally aspirated CNG-Diesel dual fuel mode compared to neat diesel operation. It was due to decrease in volumetric efficiency and slower combustion. Although turbocharged dual fuel operation shows an increase in brake power as well as an improvement in brake specific energy consumption as it provides a better air/fuel mixing and improves the homogeneous natural gas/air charge.