A Comparison of Ethanol and Methanol Blending with Gasoline Using a 1-D Engine Model

The world's fossil fuel reserves are limited and there has been intensive research to find out alternatives to fossil fuels. Hence, there is a progressive interest related to using non-fossil sources in vehicles. The biofuel is a major renewable energy source to supplement declining fossil fuel resources. Alcohols are an important category of bio-fuels. The ethanol and methanol have been good candidates as alternative fuels for the vehicles because they are liquid and have several physical and combustion properties similar to gasoline. That is why this study is aimed to develop the 1-D model of a four-stroke spark ignited engine for predicting the effect of various fuel types on engine performances and fuel consumption on various engine operating conditions. AVL Boost was used as a simulation tool to analyze the performance and emissions characteristics for different blends of ethanol, methanol and gasoline (by volume). The results obtained from the simulation of different fuel blends were compared to those of gasoline fuel. The results indicated that when alcohol–gasoline fuel blends were used, the brake power decreased and the brake specific fuel consumption increased compared to those of gasoline fuel. When fuel blends percentage increases, the CO and HC concentration decreases and there is a significant increase NOx emissions when fuel blends percentage increases up to 30% E30 (M30).