EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF PERFORMANCE AND EMISSIONS OF SI ENGINE USING ETHANOL BLENDING WITH C11-C14 HYDROCARBON FUEL ADDITIVES

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING (THERMAL ENGINEERING)

The increasing demand for improved efficiency and reduced emissions in Spark Ignition (SI) engines has led to the exploration of alternative fuel blends. This study investigates the effect of ethanol blending and C11–C14 hydrocarbon additives on the thermal performance and emission characteristics of an SI engine. Ethanol, an oxygenated biofuel derived from agricultural waste, enhances combustion efficiency and reduces harmful emissions such as carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbons (HC). However, ethanol blending also presents challenges such as lower energy density and poor combustion stability. These disadvantages are addressed by incorporating C11–C14 n- alkanes and iso-alkanes, which improve fuel stability, energy content, and overall combustion behaviour. Experimental tests were conducted on a single-cylinder SI engine using various ethanol-gasoline blends with controlled additive concentrations. Key performance parameters, including brake thermal efficiency (BTE), brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC), cylinder pressure, heat release rate, and exhaust gas temperature (EGT), were evaluated. Emission characteristics such as CO, HC, and NOx were also analysed. The results indicate that the combined use of ethanol and hydrocarbon additives not only enhances combustion and reduces emissions but also mitigates the inherent drawbacks of ethanol fuel. Thus, the proposed fuel blends offer a sustainable and efficient alternative for SI engines.

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