Compression Ratio and Catalyst Aging Effects on Aqueous Ethanol Ignition (Year 2): Part 1: Compression Ratio Effects on Aqueous Ethanol Ignition. Final Report

摘要

The lean burning of water ethanol blends has the potential to reduce NOx, CO, and HC emissions while reducing the ethanol fermentation production cost of distillation and dehydration. The torch style ignition produced by the catalytic igniter allows for the operation and cold start of a typical SI engine on ethanol/water fuels up to a 50/50 blend. This work reported here targets multiple operating conditions of a CFR engine and monitors in-cylinder pressure and emission characteristics. Premixing ethanol/water blends showed a reduction in NOx over separately injecting water and ethanol for blends up to 70/30 ethanol/water. Altering catalytic igniter voltage showed no control over CA50. This investigation will help researchers better understand the performance and emission characteristics of timing control in addition to different injection techniques for ethanol/water blends for catalytic ignition implementations focused on improving thermal efficiency and emission reduction.