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Evaluation of acetylene as a spark ignition engine fuel
Author(s) -
Hilden David L.,
Stebar Russell F.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
international journal of energy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.808
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1099-114X
pISSN - 0363-907X
DOI - 10.1002/er.4440030107
Subject(s) - gasoline , nox , acetylene , ignition system , homogeneous charge compression ignition , automotive engineering , compression ratio , combustion , environmental science , petrol engine , octane rating , equivalence ratio , nuclear engineering , materials science , waste management , internal combustion engine , chemistry , combustion chamber , engineering , organic chemistry , aerospace engineering , combustor
In spite of its known shortcomings as a fuel for spark ignition engines, acetylene has been suggested as a possible alternative to petroleum‐based fuels since it can be produced from non‐petroleum resources (coal, limestone and water). Therefore, acetylene was evaluated in a single‐cylinder engine to investigate performance and emission characteristics with special emphasis on lean operation for NO x control. Testing was carried out at constant speed, constant airflow and MBT spark timing. Equivalence ratio and compression ratio were the primary variables. The engine operated much leaner when fuelled with acetylene than with gasoline. With acetylene, the engine operated at equivalence ratios as lean as 0·53 and 0·43 for compression ratios of 4 and 6, respectively. However, the operating range was very limited. Knock‐induced preignition occurred either with compression ratios above 6 or with mixtures richer than 0·69 equivalence ratio. Both the indicated thermal efficiency and power output were less for acetylene fuelling than for gasoline. Acetylene combustion occurred at sufficiently lean equivalence ratios to produce very low NO x and CO emissions. However, when the low NO x levels were achieved hydrocarbon control was not improved over that with gasoline. Despite the potential for NO x control demonstrated in this study of acetylene fuelling, difficulties encountered with engine knock and preignition plus well‐known safety problems (wide flammability limits and explosive decomposition) associated with acetylene render this fuel impractical for spark ignition engines.