Control Of Pollution Levels of Four Stroke Spark Ignition Engine Fuelled With Methanol Blended Gasoline

ABSTRACT The exhaust emissions from spark ignition engine (SI) are carbon monoxide (CO), un-burnt hydro carbon (UBHC) and nitrogen oxide levels (NOx). These pollution levels cause health hazards if they are inhaled. Hence control of these pollutants from SI engine is an important and immediate task. In the context of depletion of fossil fuels, ever increase of pollution levels with fossil fuels and increase of economic burden on developing countries like India, the search for alternative fuels has become pertinent. Alcohols are important substitutes for gasoline engine as their properties are comparable to gasoline. Experiments are conducted to study pollution levels of CO, UBHC and NOx with four?stroke, single? cylinder SI engine with methanol blended gasoline (20% methanol, 80% gasoline, by vol) having copper coated engine [CCE, copper-(thickness, 300 μ) coated on piston crown, inner side of liner and cylinder head] provided with catalytic converter with sponge iron as catalyst and compared with conventional SI engine (CE) with neat gasoline operation. NOx levels were controlled by selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technique. CCE showed reduction in pollution levels when compared to CE with both test fuels. Catalytic converter with air injection significantly reduced pollutants with both test fuels on both configurations of the engine.