Title: Environmental pollution from the use of alternative fuels in a four-stroke engine

Authors: Charalampos Arapatsakos, N.A. Karkanis, Panagiotis Sparis

Addresses: Democritus University of Thrace, Mechanical Engineering Laboratory, Greece. ' Democritus University of Thrace, Mechanical Engineering Laboratory, Greece. ' Democritus University of Thrace, Mechanical Engineering Laboratory, Greece

Abstract: This paper discusses the use of the fuels propane and butane–propane (80:20) in a four-stroke engine made to function with gasoline (petrol). The experiment covered gas emissions, emissions temperature and fuel consumption. It was observed that gas emissions were reduced compared with gasoline. The reduction for carbon monoxide emissions was greater when butane–propane was used. The same was true for hydrocarbon emissions when the electrical load was below 1500 W, but above 1500 W propane performed better. Higher emissions temperatures were observed with both alternative fuels. Under unloaded conditions the emissions from propane combustion have higher temperature, whereas under full load conditions the emissions from the combustion of the butane–propane mixture have higher temperature. The consumption of propane is lower than that of the mixture.

Keywords: alternative fuels; gas emissions; propane; propane–butane mixture; four-stroke engine; environmental pollution; fuel consumption; emission temperatures; air pollution.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2004.005131

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2004 Vol.21 No.6, pp.593 - 602

Published online: 03 Sep 2004 *

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