Diethyl ether as an ignition improver for biogas homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) operation - An experimental investigation

This paper deals with experimental investigations of a homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) engine using biogas as a primary fuel and diethyl ether (DEE) as an ignition improver. The biogas is inducted and DEE is injected into a single-cylinder engine. For each load condition, best brake thermal efficiency DEE flow rate is determined. The results obtained in this study are also compared with those of the available biogas-diesel dual-fuel and biogas spark ignition (SI) modes. From the results, it is found that biogas-DEE HCCI mode shows wider operating load range and higher brake thermal efficiency (BTE) at all loads as compared to those of biogas-diesel dual-fuel and biogas SI modes. In HCCI mode, at 4.52 bar BMEP, as compared to dual-fuel and SI modes, BTE shows an improvement of about 3.48 and 9.21% respectively. Also, nitric oxide (NO) and smoke emissions are extremely low, and carbon monoxide (CO) emission is below 0.4% by volume at best brake thermal efficiency points. Also, in general, in HCCI mode, hydrocarbon (HC) emissions are lower than that of biogas SI mode. Therefore, it is beneficial to use biogas-DEE HCCI mode while using biogas in internal combustion engines. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.