Investigation on Poly-Ethylene-Glycols (PEG) as Ignition Improvers and Their Effects on Alcohol Engine Performance

Rapport, 1998

The aim of this project was to investigate the effects of using some newly developed polyethylene-glycols (PEG) as ignition improvers on Volvo AHI0A245 alcohol engine performance and its emissions. The test engine has previously been optimized to run on ethanol with Beraid (Trade mark of the ignition improver manufactured by the Akzo Nobel Surface Chemistry AB). Hence, the engine design, engine performance, and other functional parameters, which affect the engine thermodynamics and its thermochemistry, have been optimized. To investigate the effects of the different PEG-s on emission levels and engine performance, the fuel injection, particularly injection timing, was optimized for running the engine on ethanol and New PEG (5%), which has replaced the previously developed PEG dissolved with 7% concentration in ethanol. Based on a computerized analysis of measured high frequency signals as cylinder pressure, fuel line pressure, and needle lift related to the crank angles, the injection timing of 12 deg before TDC was found as the optimized value, ( see our previous report No 98/9 " Reference Test with Poly-Ethylene-Glycol (PEG) Ignition Improver"). Other low frequency signals were also analyzed and they were found valuable towards engine performance analysis.