Experimental Investigation of Combustion Characteristics of a Spark Ignition Engine Fueled with Methanol-Gasoline Blends (M15 and M85)

Abstract

Combustion characteristics of a 2.8 kW, constant speed, spark ignition engine fuelled with methanol-gasoline blends (M15 and M85) were studied. It was observed that the maximum in-cylinder pressure and maximum heat release rate with M85 were almost like gasoline while these values were significantly lower with M15. The flame development duration was 30.5% and 5.5% shorter at lower and higher load respectively with M85 as compared to gasoline. In addition to this, the flame propagation duration was shorter by 37% and 14.28% at lower and higher load with M85. Similar results were obtained with M15 blend. The crank angle for fifty percent mass burnt fraction was near to the top dead centre of engine with both the blends as compared to gasoline. The methanol-gasoline fuelled spark ignition engine’s important combustion characteristics including heat release rate, cumulative heat release, combustion duration, flame development, propagation and laminar flame velocity are analysed in detail.