Effects of Methanol/Gasoline Blends on a Spark Ignition Engine Performance and Emissions

TLDR: In this paper, the effects of different methanol/gasoline ratios on engine power, thermal efficiency, and emissions, especially the exhaust methanols emission, were investigated using three-cylinder, port fuel injection engine.

Abstract: Three typical methanol−gasoline blends M10, M20, and M85 containing 10%, 20%, and 85% of methanol by volume, respectively, were used to investigate the effects of different methanol/gasoline ratios on engine power, thermal efficiency, and emissions, especially the exhaust methanol emission. A three-cylinder, port fuel injection engine was applied. Experimental results show that the engine power/torque ratio under the wide open throttle condition mainly depends on the amount of heat delivered to the engine. The addition of methanol significantly improves the brake thermal efficiency, while the methanol/gasoline ratio has a slight effect on it. Engine out CO and NOx emissions decrease with the increase of the methanol/gasoline ratio. The use of M85 leads to a reduction of CO and NOx by about 25% and 80%, respectively. A gas chromatograph is calibrated and used to measure the methanol emission. Measurement indicates that the addition of methanol in gasoline results in an increase of the unburnt CH3OH emissio...