Formaldehyde and Methanol Emissions from a Methanol/Gasoline-Fueled Spark-Ignition (SI) Engine

With a three-cylinder spark-ignition (SI) engine, formaldehyde (HCHO) and methanol (CH3OH) emission characteristics as well as the three-way catalytic converter (TWC) conversion efficiency were investigated when it ran on gasoline, M 10, M20, and M85 (gasoline blended with 10, 20, and 85% of methanol in volume), respectively. HCHO and CH3OH were detected by gas chromatography (GC) with a pulsed discharge helium ionization detector (PDHID). Experimental results show that HCHO emission increases with engine speed, while CH3OH emission from a methanol/gasoline blend-fueled engine decreases with it. HCHO emission from a gasoline-fueled engine varies in a "U" curve with the engine torque. The addition of 10% methanol in gasoline doubles the HCHO emission. The increasing methanol fraction greatly improves HCHO and CH3OH emission; their concentrations are both approximately linear to the amount of cyclically supplied fuel methanol. CH3OH can be totally removed by lightened-off TWC. However, the HCHO concentration may increase rather than decrease via the conversion of TWC at high engine speeds.