Improving Fuel Economy and Engine Performance through Gasoline Fuel Octane Rating

José Rodríguez-Fernández, Ángel Ramos, Javier Barba, Dolores Cárdenas and Jesús Delgado
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José Rodríguez-Fernández: Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Industrial, University of Castilla—La Mancha, 13071 Ciudad Real, Castilla–La Mancha, Spain
Ángel Ramos: Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Industrial, University of Castilla—La Mancha, 13071 Ciudad Real, Castilla–La Mancha, Spain
Javier Barba: Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Industrial, University of Castilla—La Mancha, 13071 Ciudad Real, Castilla–La Mancha, Spain
Dolores Cárdenas: Repsol Technology Lab, 28935 Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
Jesús Delgado: Repsol Technology Lab, 28935 Móstoles, Madrid, Spain

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 13, 1-14

Abstract: The octane number is a measure of the resistance of gasoline fuels to auto-ignition. Therefore, high octane numbers reduce the engine knocking risk, leading to higher compression threshold and, consequently, higher engine efficiencies. This allows higher compression ratios to be considered during the engine design stage. Current spark-ignited (SI) engines use knock sensors to protect the engine from knocking, usually adapting the operation parameters (boost pressure, spark timing, lambda). Moreover, some engines can move the settings towards optimized parameters if knock is not detected, leading to higher performance and fuel economy. In this work, three gasolines with different octane ratings (95, 98 and 100 RON (research octane number)) were fueled in a high-performance vehicle. Tests were performed in a chassis dyno at controlled ambient conditions, including a driving sequence composed of full-load accelerations and two steady-state modes. Vehicle power significantly increased with the octane rating of the fuel, thus decreasing the time needed for acceleration. Moreover, the specific fuel consumption decreased as the octane rating increased, proving that the fuel can take an active part in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The boost pressure, which increased with the octane number, was identified as the main factor, whereas the ignition advance was the second relevant factor.

Keywords: octane number; knocking; spark-ignition; performance; knock sensor; fuel economy; vehicle acceleration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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