Energy analysis of a small capacity SI engine fueled with lean air gas mixture

In this paper, the results of the theoretical study of an internal combustion engine, fuelled with lean air - gas mixtures, are presented. Energetic property calculations were done for several chosen gaseous fuels such as methane, landfill gas, and producer gas. Based on these fuels, the performance of a theoretical Seiliger-Sabathe cycle was investigated using variable air excess values. The accurate analysis of the various processes taking place in an internal combustion engine is a very complex problem. If these processes were to be analyzed experimentally, it would be more expensive than theoretical analysis. The Seiliger-Sabathe cycle turns out to be help in theoretical analysis of internal combustion engine performance. Dimensionless descriptive parameters (E, psi) are very useful at this analysis by combining the properties of fuel with initial thermodynamic parameters of the cycle. Moreover, the experimental results of SI engine fuelled with a lean mixture of natural gas are presented for comparative purposes. The experiments were carried out on a petroleum engine with a low engine displacement. A typical SI engine was selected in order to evaluate the potential application of a gaseous fuel (i.e. natural gas). These types of engines are widely available and commonly used in the automotive sector because of low purchase prices and operating costs. It is expected that after minor modifications, the engine can easily operate in a low power co-generation mode. The main objective is to evaluate the performance of the engine under lean air/fuel mixture conditions. The slight impact of air excess ratio on COVIMEP was noticed. The value decreases insensibly with air excess ratio decreasing. Obtained results are located at acceptable levels for power generation sources and are less than 5 %. Although, the more distinct impact was observed regarding to COVpmax. The maximum value was noted for leaner mixture and it amounts to approximately 7.5%.