Effect of Ethanol–Gasoline Blends on Engine Performance Parameters in Copper Coated Two Stroke Spark Ignition Engine

Renewable energy sources for the gasoline engines alcohols gain importance recently. These renewable energy sources have attracted the attention of researchers as alternative fuel due to their high octane number. In this paper investigations were carried out to evaluate performance parameters of two-stroke, single cylinder spark ignition (SI) engine with gasohol (80% gasoline, 20% ethanol, by vol) having copper coated engine [copper-(thickness, 300 μ) coated on piston crown and inner side of cylinder head] provided with catalytic converter with sponge iron as catalyst and compared with conventional SI engine with gasoline operation. Performance parameters [brake thermal efficiency, exhaust gas temperature and volumetric efficiency] were determined at various values of brake mean effective pressure of the engine. Comparative studies were made on performance parameters with conventional SI engine with pure gasoline operation. Brake thermal efficiency increased with gasohol with both versions of the engine. Copper-coated engine showed improved performance when compared to conventional engine with both test fuels.