Life Cycle and Exergoenvironmental Analyses of Ethanol: Performance of a Flex-Fuel Spark-Ignition Engine at Wide-Open Throttle Conditions

Eduardo J. C. Cavalcanti, Daniel R. S. da Silva and Monica Carvalho
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Eduardo J. C. Cavalcanti: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal 59072-970, Brazil
Daniel R. S. da Silva: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal 59072-970, Brazil
Monica Carvalho: Department of Renewable Energy Engineering, Federal University of Paraíba (UFPB), João Pessoa 58051-900, Brazil

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 4, 1-19

Abstract: The growth in the number of vehicles circulating has led to a proportional increase in polluting gas emissions. Bioenergy can be used to help meet these increasing energy demands and mitigate environmental impacts. This work verified the effect of the content of ethanol on the exergy and exergoenvironmental analyses of a spark-ignition engine. Different gasoline–ethanol mixtures were tested along with hydrous ethanol (4.6% water by volume). The thermodynamic data refer to wide-open throttle conditions and variable engine speeds. The life cycle assessment methodology quantified the environmental impacts associated with equipment and fuel using the Eco-indicator 99 method. Pollutants emitted during combustion were measured and included in the environmental assessment (nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and dioxide). Hydrous ethanol at 1500 rpm presented the highest energy efficiency. The effects of the environmental impact rate of pollutant formation and exergy efficiency were significantly higher than the environmental impact rate of fuel. The lowest specific environmental impact of the product (brake power) was 24.39 mPt/MJ, obtained with the fuel blend with 50% ethanol at 2500 rpm. The combined evaluation of the exergoenvironmental factor and the relative difference in environmental impact indicated the optimization priorities and where improvements should be directed.

Keywords: ethanol; life cycle assessment; internal combustion engine; gasoline; ethanol; exergoenvironmental analysis (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: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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