Emissions Evaluation of Methanol-Gasoline Blend in Spark Ignition Engine

Abstract

\n This study experimentally evaluated exhaust emissions from methanol-gasoline blend (G95) and pure gasoline (G100) fuels using Spark Ignition (SI) engine. We produced methanol from Carbon (IV) Oxide (CO2) and water for transport and other applications. The methanol production involved simultaneous electrolysis of water within the anodic half-cell and catalytic reduction of CO2 within cathodic half-cell of an electrochemical set-up. We separated the produced methanol from its solution by fractional distillation. G95 was a mixture of 5 percent of methanol and 95 percent of gasoline. The experimental engine was naturally aspirated, single cylinder, 4-stroke with port-fueled injector. We operated the engine under constant load of 3000 kg with varying engine speeds of 2200, 2600, 3000, 3400, 3800, and 4200 rpm. The experimental test results showed that CO and uHC emissions by G95 are lower than that of G100 at all engine speeds. However, CO2 and lambda (λ) emissions by G95 are higher than that of G100 specifically at full load operations. The results found in this study highlight that application of methanol in transportation industry has high potential to lessen vehicle s emissions and improve atmospheric environment.