Table of Contents

ABSTRACT

Researchers are working to develop alternative fuels that can operate I.C. engines without requiring significant modifications in response to rising power demand and the depletion of fossil fuels. Acetylene can be developed as a diesel engine alternative fuel due to its excellent combustion characteristics. The combustion analysis for cylinder pressure and temperature during the engine’s dual-fuel operation for various acetylene flow rates and lowering the compression ratio (CR) was presented in this paper. During the experiments CR of engine lowered from 18 to 13 in steps of 1 CR and for dual fuel mode, acetylene flow rates monitored from 2 liter per minute (LPM) to 5 LPM in steps of 1 LPM. The results analysis from lowering CR for dual fuel mode was important to understand abnormal combustion and corrective actions for future experimentation. During analysis, rate of pressure rise and maximum cylinder pressure can be used in relation to crank angle. The injection timing used during experimentation was set to 230 before top dead center. It is observed that lowering CR was possible up to CR 15 for acetylene flow rates of 2 LPM to 4 LPM. Also, lower values of temperature during combustion while lowering CR help to reduce nitrogen oxides emission.

Keywords: diesel engine, dual fuel, acetylene, combustion, low compression ratio