Mixture formation characteristics and comprehensive evaluation of a biodiesel-fueled spark ignition aviation piston engine

Zhong Lingfeng, Liu Siyu, Liu Rui, Chen Yufeng, Li Jing and Miao Xiaodong

Energy, 2025, vol. 314, issue C

Abstract: Biodiesel presents a promising solution to the growing energy demands of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) amidst the global energy crisis. Aviation Piston Engine (APE) which is the primary power source for small and medium-sized UAVs, often utilize gas-assisted atomization injection (GAAI) to enhance the atomization of biodiesel, a heavy fuel. This study investigates the impact of the start of injection (SOI) timing on mixture formation within the APE cylinder through detailed numerical simulations. Several metrics, such as the mean equivalent ratio (ER) near the spark plugs, the trapped rate, and the standard deviation of ER, are used to thoroughly assess the quality of the mixture at different SOI timings. The results indicate that premature fuel injection can lead to significant fuel scavenging losses, with the trapped rate reaching 98.21 % at an SOI of 150° CA BTDC. The study further demonstrates that advancing the SOI enhances fuel evaporation efficiency. Utilizing the technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution (TOPSIS) based on the entropy weight method, the research concludes that the optimal mixture quality is achieved with an SOI set at 180° CA BTDC. These findings provide valuable insights for the application of biodiesel in UAV APEs, promoting both efficiency and sustainability in aviation fuel usage.

Keywords: Aviation piston engine; UAV; Biodiesel; Gas-assisted atomization injection; Mixture formation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:314:y:2025:i:c:s0360544224040647

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2024.134286

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