The Synergy between Methanol M100 and Plasma-Assisted Ignition System PAI to Achieve Increasingly Leaner Mixtures in a Single-Cylinder Engine

Federico Ricci, Francesco Mariani, Stefano Papi, Jacopo Zembi (), Michele Battistoni and Carlo Nazareno Grimaldi
Additional contact information
Federico Ricci: Department of Engineering, University of Perugia, Via G. Duranti 93, 06125 Perugia, PG, Italy
Francesco Mariani: Department of Engineering, University of Perugia, Via G. Duranti 93, 06125 Perugia, PG, Italy
Stefano Papi: Federal-Mogul Powertrain Italy, Via della Scienza, 6/8, 41012 Carpi, MO, Italy
Jacopo Zembi: Department of Engineering, University of Perugia, Via G. Duranti 93, 06125 Perugia, PG, Italy
Michele Battistoni: Department of Engineering, University of Perugia, Via G. Duranti 93, 06125 Perugia, PG, Italy
Carlo Nazareno Grimaldi: Department of Engineering, University of Perugia, Via G. Duranti 93, 06125 Perugia, PG, Italy

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 7, 1-14

Abstract: Currently, conventional spark–ignition engines face challenges in meeting the ever-growing demands of customers and increasingly stringent regulations regarding pollutant emissions. A combination of innovative strategies and carbon-neutral fuels is deemed necessary in order to further reduce fuel consumption and minimize engine emissions. The present work aims to assess the performance of combustion strategies using low-carbon-content fuel, such as methanol M100, ignited by a plasma-assisted igniter (PAI) under ultra-lean conditions. The experimental campaign is conducted on a single-cylinder research engine at 1000 rpm and low loads, moving up to the engine lean stable limits. The specific purpose of this work is to determine the benefits brought by the proposed strategy, referred to as M100–PAI, which compared market gasoline E5 ignited by the PAI system and conventional spark. The synergy between M100 (methanol) and Plasma-Assisted Ignition (PAI) in internal combustion engines yielded notable benefits. This combination significantly improved combustion stability if compared to the other combinations tested, by extending the lean stable limit to λ = 2.0, reducing cycle-to-cycle variability, and facilitating faster flame front acceleration, resulting in enhanced homogeneity. These enhancements, obtained with the combination M100–PAI, contributed to higher fuel efficiency, showing a 10% efficiency gain over the combination E5–gasoline spark ignition. The findings highlight the potential of innovative combustion strategies using low-carbon fuels and advanced ignition systems to meet stringent emissions regulations while improving engine performance.

Keywords: lean combustion; kinetic; methanol fuel; Plasma-Assisted Ignition; SI engine (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: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/7/1659/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/7/1659/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jeners:v:17:y:2024:i:7:p:1659-:d:1367373

Access Statistics for this article

Energies is currently edited by Ms. Agatha Cao

More articles in Energies from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().