CFD Modelling and Experimental Validation of an Ethanol Spark-Ignition Heavy-Duty Engine

Maria Cristina Cameretti, Roberta De Robbio (), Raffaele Tuccillo, Diego Perrone and Teresa Castiglione
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Maria Cristina Cameretti: Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Naples Federico II, 80125 Naples, Italy
Roberta De Robbio: Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Naples Federico II, 80125 Naples, Italy
Raffaele Tuccillo: Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Naples Federico II, 80125 Naples, Italy
Diego Perrone: Department of Mechanical, Energy and Management Engineering, University of Calabria, 87036 Cosenza, Italy
Teresa Castiglione: Department of Mechanical, Energy and Management Engineering, University of Calabria, 87036 Cosenza, Italy

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 13, 1-31

Abstract: The activity of the present work is part of a research project aimed at proposing a solution for off-grid charging stations relying on the adoption of a reciprocating engine fuelled with alternative renewable fuels. This technology has as its main advantage the zero-carbon emissions impact of biofuels with small modifications to current ICE technology and refuelling infrastructure. This research is founded on preliminary experimental tests carried out on a six-cylinder spark-ignition engine adapted to pure ethanol fuelling with a single-point injection system. The experimental results obtained at different engine loads have been useful to build and validate a CFD model by testing several kinetic mechanisms and for the proper calibration of a flame speed model. Nevertheless, due to the chemical and physical properties of alcohols such as ethanol, this type of fuelling system leads to a significant non-uniformity of the mixture among the cylinders, and in some cases, to rich air-to-fuel ratio; numerical simulations are performed to address such an issue, and to evaluate performance and exhaust emissions, in terms of CO, CO 2 , and NO x . Finally, a study on spark timing variation is presented as well, to study its effect on performance and pollutants.

Keywords: ethanol; biofuel; CFD; pollutant emissions; CO 2 reduction (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: 2025
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