Author : S. Narasimha Kumar, M.V.S. Murali Krishna and P.V.K. Murthy

Experiments were conducted to control exhaust emissions and determine combustion characteristics of two-stroke, single cylinder, spark ignition (SI) engine, with alcohol blended gasoline (80% gasoline, 10% methanol, 10% ethanol by volume) having copper coated combustion chamber [CCCC, copper-(thickness, 300 μ) coated on piston crown, inner side of cylinder head] provided with catalytic converter with sponge iron as catalyst and compared with conventional SI engine (CE) with pure gasoline operation. Exhaust emissions ( carbon mono oxide (CO) and un-burnt hydro carbons (UBHC) were evaluated at different values of brake mean effective pressure. Combustion characteristics (peak pressure, maximum rate of pressure rise and time of occurrence of peak pressure and maximum heat release) were determined at full load operation of the engine. A microprocessor-based analyzer was used for the measurement of CO/UBHC in the exhaust of the engine. Combustion characteristics were determined by special software package. Copper coated combustion chamber with alcohol blended gasoline considerably reduced pollutants in comparison with CE with pure gasoline operation. Catalytic converter with air injection significantly reduced pollutants with test fuels on both configurations of the combustion chamber. The catalyst, sponge reduced the pollutants effectively with both test fuels in both versions of the combustion chamber.

Keywords: S.I. Engine, CE, copper coated combustion chamber, Exhaust Emissions, CO, UBHC, combustion characteristics, Catalytic converter, Sponge iron, Air injection.

Article published in International Journal of Current  Engineering  and Technology, Vol.3,No.5(Dec- 2013)