Optimization of suitable ethanol blend ratio for motorcycle engine using response surface method.
In view of energy shortage and air pollution, ethanol-gasoline blended fuel used for motorcycle engine was studied in this work. The emissions of carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NO(X)) and engine performance of a 125 cc four-stroke motorcycle engine with original carburetor using ethanol-gasoline fuels were investigated. The model of three-variable Box Behnken design (BBD) was used for experimental design, the ethanol blend ratios were prepared at 0, 10, 20 vol%; the speeds of motorcycle were selected as 30, 45, 60 km/h; and the throttle positions were set at 30, 60, 90 %. Both engine performance and air pollutant emissions were then analyzed by response surface method (RSM) to yield optimum operation parameters for tolerable pollutant emissions and maximum engine performance. The RSM optimization analysis indicated that the most suitable ethanol-gasoline blended ratio was found at the range of 3.92-4.12 vol% to yield a comparable fuel conversion efficiency, while considerable reductions of exhaust pollutant emissions of CO (-29 %) and NO(X) (-12 %) when compared to pure gasoline fuel. This study demonstrated low ethanol-gasoline blended fuels could be used in motorcycle carburetor engines without any modification to keep engine power while reducing exhaust pollutants.
Department of Bio-industrial Mechatronics Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Yu-Liang
YL
Chen
Suming
S
Chen
Jin-Ming
JM
Tsai
Chao-Yin
CY
Tsai
Hsin-Hsiung
HH
Fang
I-Chang
IC
Yang
Sen-Yuan
SY
Liu
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000032:analysis / Q000517:prevention & control; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000032:analysis; D003246:Conservation of Energy Resources; D000431:Ethanol; D005742:Gasoline; D009049:Motorcycles; D009589:Nitrogen Oxides / Q000032:analysis; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000032:analysis*
D000393:Air Pollutants; D005742:Gasoline; D009589:Nitrogen Oxides; D001335:Vehicle Emissions; D000431:Ethanol; D002248:Carbon Monoxide