Assessment of The Performance of a Small Capacity SI Engine Fuelled with Model Lean Mixture of Biogas

Abstract

In this paper the results of the experimental study on the SI engine using biogas will be presented. The experiments were carried out on a petrol engine with a low engine displacement. Typical SI engine was selected in order to evaluate the potential application of gaseous fuel (i.e. biogas). These types of engines are available on a wide scale and commonly used in automotive sector because of the low purchase price and operating costs. It is expected that after minor modifications, the engine can easily operate in low power co-generation mode. In an experimental part of this paper a complete study of the biogas combustion is presented and compared with the results for natural gas in the same unmodified petrol engine (without modification to its combustion system). The main objective was to compare and evaluate the performance, efficiency and environmental impact of the engine under lean air/fuel mixture conditions when using alternative fuel, i.e. biogas and natural gas.

Keywords

• global warming, spark ignition (SI) engine, biogas, exhaust emission, indicated efficiency

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