Potential of Ethanol Blends in Modern Spark Ignition Engines

Authors

Peter Hofmann, Florian Holub, Rainer List, Stefan Winter, Michael Urbanek, Bernhard Geringer, Institut für Verbrennungskraftmaschinen und Kraftfahrzeugbau der Technischen Universität Wien

Year

2007

Summary

Biogenous fuels like ethanol are an adequate solution for reducing the greenhouse gas emissions and for minimizing the dependence on fossil energy sources. The material properties of ethanol enable an increase in efficiency and an improvement in emission behaviour when applied in an SI engine. In the course of several alternative fuel research projects conducted at the Vienna University of Technology, ethanol blends were analyzed in SI engines with supercharging. The presented results are based on measurements which have on one hand been conducted on a steady state engine test bench and on the other hand on a roller test bench. The tests showed an increase of efficiency of up to 38 percent at full load. At part load significant reductions in the unburnt hydrocarbon as well as in the nitrogen oxide untreated emissions could be observed. The positive effects on fuel consumption could be detected in the NEDC driving cycle, as well.

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