Experimental Investigation of Using Ethanol-gasoline in Electronic Control Gasoline-injection Engine

This paper investigates the effect of ethanol-gasoline blended fuel on engine performance and exhaust emission. A four-stroke, four-cylinder SI engine with an electronic fuel injection (EFI) system is used for this study. The fuel properties of blended fuel are examined and the results show that blended fuel has a high octane number and high Reid vapor pressure. Performance tests are conducted for brake power, engine torque and brake specific fuel consumption, using two test fuels at different throttle opening position and variable engine speed ranging from idle speed to maximum speed. The results show that engine power output and torque decreases at partial load and they give no reduction at full load operating condition if blended fuel is used. The brake specific fuel consumption increases by 5 - 10%, but the brake specific energy consumption improves and region of fuel economy of ethanol-gasoline fueled engine becomes narrow. The exhaust emissions are also analysed for carbon monoxide (CO), nitric oxides (NOX) and unburned hydrocarbons at idle speed. The CO, HC and NOX emission concentrations decrease. The performance of ethanol-gasoline is pertinent to the air/fuel ratio control strategy.