Performance Evaluation of a Two Stroke Copper Coated Spark Ignition Engine with Gasohol with Catalytic Converter with Different Catalysts

Investigations were conducted to evaluate the performance of a two-stroke, single cylinder, spark ignition (SI) engine, with gasohol (80% gasoline and 20% ethanol by volume) having copper coated engine [CCE, copper-(thickness, 300 μ) coated on piston crown, inner side of cylinder head] provided with catalytic converter with different catalysts of sponge iron and manganese ore and compared with conventional SI engine (CE) with pure gasoline operation. Performance parameters of brake thermal efficiency, exhaust gas temperature and volumetric efficiency were determined at various magnitudes of brake mean effective pressure. A microprocessorbased analyzer was used for the measurement of carbon monoxide (CO) and un-burnt hydro carbons (UBHC) in the exhaust of the engine at full load operation of the engine. Aldehydes were measured by DNPH (dinitrophenyl hydrazine) method. Combustion characteristics were measured with a special pressure-crank angle software package. Peak brake thermal efficiency increased by 24% with CCE with gasohol in comparison with CE with pure gasoline operation. CCE with gasohol considerably reduced emissions in comparison with CE with pure gasoline operation. Sponge iron was proved to be efficient in reducing CO and UBHC emissions in comparison with manganese ore. Catalytic converter with air injection significantly reduced emission with test fuels on both configurations of the engine. Keywords-S.I. Engine, CE, CCE, Pollutants, Catalytic converter, Sponge iron, Manganese ore, Air injection