Title: Development of a fuel-tolerant diesel for alternative fuels

Authors: A.W.E. Henham, R.A. Johns, S. Newnham

Addresses: Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, University of Surrey, UK. ' Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, University of Surrey, UK. ' Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, University of Surrey, UK

Abstract: There is a growing requirement for engines operating on a wider range of fuels than when fuel supplies were more stable. The diesel engine, with its high compression ratio and absence of part-load throttling, offers high efficiency. Some widely available alternative fuels, in particular alcohol from biomass, present problems because of their low cetane number. The authors report the development of a diesel engine using a combustion system incorporating a high-energy, multi-strike spark to promote smooth combustion. Results obtained with this engine using ethanol are presented to illustrate its ability to handle fuels of very low cetane numbers.

Keywords: alcohol; alternative fuels; brake-specific fuel consumption; cetane number; compression ignition engines; diesel; ethanol; gasoline; petrol; methanol; oil crisis; spark ignition engines; diesel engines; biomass.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.1991.061752

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 1991 Vol.12 No.3, pp.296 - 303

Published online: 27 May 2014 *

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