SURFACE IGNITION INITIATED COMBUSTION OF ALCOHOL IN DIESEL ENGINES-A NEW APPROACH

This paper presents a novel approach of force igniting methanol or ethanol alone in a diesel engine at normal compression rates. The well established proneness of methanol to preignite in SI engine is made use of in the present method by employing a heated and insulated surface to initiate ignition. A conventional single cylinder diesel engine was modified to work on this principle. The engine operates satisfactorily at the rated speed (150 RPM) on methanol and ethanol with thermal efficiences comparable to the normal diesel engine of the same configuration. The operational experience further shows that it is possible to design a self-sustaining hot surface to initiate ignition. The engine also exhibits multi-fuel capability.

• Corporate Authors:

  Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)

  400 Commonwealth Drive
  Warrendale, PA  United States  15096
• Authors:
  • Nagalingam, B
  • Sridhar, B L
  • Panchapakesan, N R
  • Gopalakrishnan, K V
  • Murthy, B S
• Publication Date: 1980-2

Media Info

• Pagination: 12 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Combustion; Compression; Diesel engines; Ethanol; Methanol; Performance
• Old TRIS Terms: Compression ratio
• Subject Areas: Highways; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00315110
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: SAE 800262
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 27 1980 12:00AM