The Performance and Emissions Characteristics of Heavy Fuels in a Small, Spark Ignition Engine

The Performance and Emissions Characteristics of Heavy Fuels in a Small, Spark Ignition Engine
Author: Jon-Russell J. Groenewegen
Publisher:
Total Pages: 136
Release: 2011
Genre: Biomass energy
ISBN:

This thesis research was conducted in pursuit of the DoD's plan for the universal use of a heavy, low volatility hydrocarbon fuel, and the increased interest in bio-derived fuels for small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS's). Currently a majority of small UAS's use small spark ignition engines for their high power densities. Typically, these systems use commercial off-the-shelf power plants that are not optimized for fuel efficiency. Increased fuel efficiency is being pursued alongside the ability to utilize military heavy fuels. A test stand using a 33.5 cc four-stroke, spark ignition, air-cooled, single cylinder engine was constructed. Research was conducted to establish the feasibility of converting the existing system to utilize JP-8 with the stock mechanical carburetion. The stock carburetion had difficulty maintaining a consistent air/fuel ratio across the entire engine operating range. To resolve this, an electronic fuel injection system was developed to gain greater control over fuel mixture. An air-assisted electronic fuel injector was sourced from a scooter and adapted to work with the 33.5cc four-stroke engine. An aluminum injector mount was designed and machined and electronic controls were employed. Sensors on the valvetrain and crankshaft were developed as control signals for the injection system. The injector was characterized for flow rates and droplet size. The test stand consisted of a small dynamometer coupled to the engine. Servo throttle actuation was designed and throttle position was monitored with a throttle position sensor. The air-assisted injector was supplied with regulated shop air, and the fuel pressurized using regulated nitrogen. A fuel flowmeter and mass air flowmeter monitored equivalence ratio. Work was done to facilitate smooth measurement of unsteady air flow intrinsic to single-cylinder engines. Performance testing showed a decrease in brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) while utilizing the injection system for the baseline fuel (Avgas 100LL), as greater mixture control (closer to stoichiometric) was realized. The engine was started using gasoline. Heavy fuel testing showed the ability to achieve required torque values at certain engine speeds. JP-8 was tested on the carbureted engine and fuel injected engine, showing a decrease in BSFC over baseline (carbureted avgas) with the carburetor and a further decrease in BSFC for the injected system. Biofuels that were tested were plant-based Camelina (carbureted and injected) and a UDRI grown and extracted algae-based fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) biofuel blended with D2 diesel in a 20% algae/80% diesel blend. Performance results for the Camelina showed a decrease in BSFC for the carbureted engine and the largest decrease of all the test fuels for the injected Camelina fuel. The algae blend showed less decrease in BSFC than the 100% diesel fuel. Emissions data were recorded as well. The injection system demonstrated less CO emissions for the injected fuels over the carbureted fuels due to closer to stoichiometric mixtures. Similarly, unburned hydrocarbon emissions decreased when injection was employed. NOx emissions were higher for the fuel injected engine, as peak NOx emissions will typically occur at slightly lean conditions and the injected fuels were closer to peak NOx emission conditions.

Assessment of Fuel Economy Technologies for Light-Duty Vehicles

Assessment of Fuel Economy Technologies for Light-Duty Vehicles
Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 373
Release: 2011-06-03
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0309216389

Various combinations of commercially available technologies could greatly reduce fuel consumption in passenger cars, sport-utility vehicles, minivans, and other light-duty vehicles without compromising vehicle performance or safety. Assessment of Technologies for Improving Light Duty Vehicle Fuel Economy estimates the potential fuel savings and costs to consumers of available technology combinations for three types of engines: spark-ignition gasoline, compression-ignition diesel, and hybrid. According to its estimates, adopting the full combination of improved technologies in medium and large cars and pickup trucks with spark-ignition engines could reduce fuel consumption by 29 percent at an additional cost of $2,200 to the consumer. Replacing spark-ignition engines with diesel engines and components would yield fuel savings of about 37 percent at an added cost of approximately $5,900 per vehicle, and replacing spark-ignition engines with hybrid engines and components would reduce fuel consumption by 43 percent at an increase of $6,000 per vehicle. The book focuses on fuel consumption-the amount of fuel consumed in a given driving distance-because energy savings are directly related to the amount of fuel used. In contrast, fuel economy measures how far a vehicle will travel with a gallon of fuel. Because fuel consumption data indicate money saved on fuel purchases and reductions in carbon dioxide emissions, the book finds that vehicle stickers should provide consumers with fuel consumption data in addition to fuel economy information.

Heavy Fuel Engine Technology Assessment

Heavy Fuel Engine Technology Assessment
Author: Cynthia Palacios
Publisher:
Total Pages: 48
Release: 1998
Genre:
ISBN:

As part of the Military Single Fuel Forward Logistics concept, all fuel consuming equipment should be able to operate using JP-8. For most engine driven equipment, this necessitates the use of diesel (compression ignition) rather than gasoline (spark ignition) engines. Because of the lower power density of diesel engines, especially small engines, some current fielded equipment, as well as new equipment being developed, are not complying with the Single Fuel Forward directives. The intent of this study was to survey existing state of the art heavy fuel (diesel) engine technology and recommend an approach to DoD for the acquisition of JP-8 capable engines for these applications. Equipment developers and item managers were surveyed to identity vehicles and equipment currently using gasoline engines, or situation in which engine limitations severely compromise developmental objectives. The characteristics of current state of the art diesel engine technology, along with what might be achievable for military applications, were then compared with these requirements to determine what engine approaches might satisfy the equipment needs. The final recommendation combines the following three steps to satisfy the requirements of the wide range of DoD engine applications: 1) Modify existing diesel engines to meet weight and power specifications to provide 10,000 DoD engines per year; 2 Design a new engine family utilizing commercial technology for most components to provide 33,000 DoD engines per year; 3) Design an engine family of very high power density to provide 1,000 engines per year that can not be produced by the other two steps.

Alternative Fuels and Their Utilization Strategies in Internal Combustion Engines

Alternative Fuels and Their Utilization Strategies in Internal Combustion Engines
Author: Akhilendra Pratap Singh
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 329
Release: 2019-10-10
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 9811504180

This book covers alternative fuels and their utilization strategies in internal combustion engines. The main objective of this book is to provide a comprehensive overview of the recent advances in the production and utilization aspects of different types of liquid and gaseous alternative fuels. In the last few years, methanol and DME have gained significant attention of the energy sector, because of their capability to be utilized in different types of engines. This book will be a valuable resource for researchers and practicing engineers alike.

Journal of the Society of Automotive Engineers

Journal of the Society of Automotive Engineers
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 918
Release: 1919
Genre: Aeronautics
ISBN:

Vols. 30-54 (1932-46) issued in 2 separately paged sections: General editorial section and a Transactions section. Beginning in 1947, the Transactions section is continued as SAE quarterly transactions.

Technologies and Approaches to Reducing the Fuel Consumption of Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles

Technologies and Approaches to Reducing the Fuel Consumption of Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles
Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 251
Release: 2010-07-30
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0309159474

Technologies and Approaches to Reducing the Fuel Consumption of Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles evaluates various technologies and methods that could improve the fuel economy of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, such as tractor-trailers, transit buses, and work trucks. The book also recommends approaches that federal agencies could use to regulate these vehicles' fuel consumption. Currently there are no fuel consumption standards for such vehicles, which account for about 26 percent of the transportation fuel used in the U.S. The miles-per-gallon measure used to regulate the fuel economy of passenger cars. is not appropriate for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, which are designed above all to carry loads efficiently. Instead, any regulation of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles should use a metric that reflects the efficiency with which a vehicle moves goods or passengers, such as gallons per ton-mile, a unit that reflects the amount of fuel a vehicle would use to carry a ton of goods one mile. This is called load-specific fuel consumption (LSFC). The book estimates the improvements that various technologies could achieve over the next decade in seven vehicle types. For example, using advanced diesel engines in tractor-trailers could lower their fuel consumption by up to 20 percent by 2020, and improved aerodynamics could yield an 11 percent reduction. Hybrid powertrains could lower the fuel consumption of vehicles that stop frequently, such as garbage trucks and transit buses, by as much 35 percent in the same time frame.