Studies on Performance Parameters and Combustion Characteristics of Copper Coated Four Stroke Spark Ignition Engine with Alcohol Blended Gasoline

Investigations were carried out to evaluate the performance of four stroke, variable speed, variable compression ratio single cylinder spark ignition (SI) engine with alcohol blended (80% gasoline, 10% ethanol and 10% methanol by volume) having copper coated combustion chamber [copper-(thickness, 300 μ) coated on piston crown, and inner side of cylinder head]. Performance parameters [brake thermal efficiency, exhaust gas temperature and volumetric efficiency] were determined at various values of brake mean effective pressure of the engine, while combustion characteristics [peak pressure, maximum rate of pressure rise, time of occurrence of peak pressure and maximum heat release] were evaluated at full load operation of the engine with alcohol blended gasoline. Comparative studies were made on performance parameters and combustion characteristics with conventional SI engine with pure gasoline operation. Brake thermal efficiency increased with alcohol blended gasoline with both versions of the combustion chamber. Copper-coated combustion chamber (CCCC) showed improved performance and combustion parameters when compared with conventional engine (CE) with both test fuels.