Search Results

Nowadays computer simulation is an important tool to support new internal combustion engine projects, but still further studies are necessary for its use in fuel development. In order to study the influence of fuel properties on engine combustion and emission performance, a computer model was designed based on a Flex-Fuel engine geometric data. Model was validated with experimental tests done on an engine dynamometer. A simulation software was used to simulate the experimental conditions, by using Wiebe two zone combustion and Woschni heat transfer models. In-cylinder maximum pressure, IMEP and emission data were calculated for different gasoline-hydrous ethanol blends at 3875 rpm, 60 Nm and 105 Nm. Total hydrocarbons concentration was simulated comparing the experimental data of hydrocarbons added with unburned ethanol emission measured with a FTIR analyzer.

In Brazilian market, Flex-Fuel vehicles represented over 85% of new light-duty vehicles sold in 2010. These vehicles can use gasoline blended with anhydrous ethanol (18 to 25% v/v), 100% of hydrous ethanol (contains from 6,2 to 7,4% w/w of water) or any blend of these fuels. Some studies regarding Flex-Fuel technology are being made in Brazil, but there are not many published information about fuel properties of different ethanol-gasoline blends. Also, it is important to better understand emissions of aldehydes, unburned ethanol and total hydrocarbons of different ethanol blends on gasoline. A Flex-Fuel engine, 1.4 l, 4 cylinders was tested on a dynamometer. A FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared analyzer) bench measured aldehydes, unburned ethanol and total hydrocarbons. It was used Gasoline with 25% of anhydrous ethanol was used as a reference fuel (E25). E25 was blended with different hydrous ethanol contents such as 30% (H30), 50% (H50), 80% (H80) and 100% (H100).

In Brazilian market, Flex-Fuel vehicles represented over 90% of new light-duty vehicles sold in 2009. These vehicles can use gasoline blended with anhydrous ethanol (20 to 25% v/v), 100% of hydrous ethanol (contains from 6,2 to 7,4% w/w of water) or any blend of these fuels. An experimental investigation was done to study fuel consumption, emissions and in-cylinder pressure data of a Flex-Fuel Otto engine, 1.4 L, 4 cylinders. It used gasoline with 22% of anhydrous ethanol as a reference fuel (E22). E22 was blended with different hydrous ethanol contents such as 50% (H50) and 80% (H80), also a 100% hydrous ethanol H100) was used. The main fuel properties were analyzed as part of this work. To control the engine operation, a programmable ECU (Engine Control Unit) was used, allowing spark timing calibration either for maximum break torque (MBT) or to keep the engine below the knocking limit.

Brazil is known for its long experience on using alternative fuels, mainly ethanol for light duty vehicles. In 2002, it was released the Flexible fuel car that can run with gasohol (gasoline with 22% of ethanol), hydrated ethanol or any blend of these fuels. By the end of 2006, national production of these vehicles represented around 80% of the total. Brazil is also the second world fleet of Natural Gas Vehicles (NGV), with more than 1,4 million light duty converted vehicles. This paper describes the development of a computational thermodynamic model of compression, combustion and expansion processes of gasohol, ethanol and Natural Gas (NG) for the cylinder pressure curve prediction of a Flexible Fuel engine, working with a NG kit installed. The combustion process is modeled using a Wiebe function, which establishes the mass fraction of burned fuel. Convective heat transfer to cylinder walls is estimated with an empirical correlation for heat transfer coefficient determination.

An experimental investigation was performed on an engine dynamometer to study in cylinder pressure curve and combustion parameters variability with ethanol addition. It was used a Flex-Fuel engine, 1.4 L, 4 cylinders, with a programmable engine control unit to optimize the calibration for different blends of Brazilian gasoline and hydrous ethanol. Engine was calibrated for maximum break torque limited by knocking. In-cylinder pressure was measured by using a pressure sensor installed on the spark plug and analyzed by a combustion data system. Combustion duration, mass fraction burned, indicated mean effective pressure (IMEP) and others were calculated based on in-cylinder pressure curve data. The combustion variability was analyzed from 300 recorded engine cycle for each operating condition. Results for some operating conditions indicated that ethanol addition can reduce combustion variability on a non linear pattern.

This paper describes the development of a computational thermodynamic model of compression, combustion and expansion processes of gasohol, ethanol and Natural Gas (NG) for the cylinder pressure curve prediction of a Flexible Fuel engine, working with a NG kit installed. The combustion process is modeled using a Wiebe function. Equations for specific heat at constant pressure (Cp) were developed for each fuel for temperatures up to 4000 K. The model output generates the cylinder gas pressure and temperature, work output and heat release profiles as functions of crank angle, allowing studies of engine performance parameters in different working conditions for each fuel. The differences between the experimental and simulation results were lower than 4% for the maximum cylinder pressure value.