This content is not included in
your SAE MOBILUS subscription, or you are not logged in.
Improving the Fuel Efficiency of Light-Duty Ethanol Vehicles - An Engine Dynamometer Study of Dedicated Engine Strategies
Technical Paper
1999-01-3568
ISSN: 0148-7191, e-ISSN: 2688-3627
Annotation ability available
Sector:
Language:
English
Abstract
This paper describes an experimental study to determine the potential for fuel efficiency improvements offered by dedicated, high compression E85 engines with optimized powertrain calibration strategies. The study involved a prototype variable fuel engine that could operate using either gasoline or E85, and a high compression version of the same engine that was suitable only for E85. Fuel consumption and engine-out emissions were evaluated using steady-state engine dynamometer tests to represent urban and highway speed/load conditions.
For each fuel and engine combination, the fuel efficiency and emissions trade-offs provided by varying Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) levels were determined. For the high compression engine, operation at lower speed/higher load conditions (producing the same power as the standard speed/load settings) was also investigated. This was of interest because the opportunity would exist to trade off the improved acceleration performance of a dedicated E85 vehicle (due to the higher torque output of the high compression engine) for improved fuel efficiency using different driveline gearing.
The dedicated E85 engine with optimized EGR levels was found to provide improvements in gasoline equivalent fuel economy of about 10% relative to the standard gasoline engine. Improvements of about 15% were possible when the dedicated E85 engine was downspeeded in proportion to its torque advantage over the gasoline engine. Despite the higher compression ratio and higher engine load (in the downspeeding case), it was possible to achieve lower specific NOx emissions than the gasoline engine while maintaining similar levels of Total Hydrocarbon Emissions. Factors responsible for this behaviour included inherently lower emissions with E85, as well as improved efficiency, greater EGR tolerance, and reduced spark advance requirements with the high compression engine.
Recommended Content
Authors
- David P. Gardiner - Nexum Research Corp.
- Robert W. Mallory - Nexum Research Corp.
- Greg R. Pucher - Nexum Research Corp.
- Marc K. Todesco - Nexum Research Corp.
- Michael F. Bardon - Royal Military College of Canada
- Tony J. Markel - National Renewable Energy Laboratory
- James M. Ohi - National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Topic
Citation
Gardiner, D., Mallory, R., Pucher, G., Todesco, M. et al., "Improving the Fuel Efficiency of Light-Duty Ethanol Vehicles - An Engine Dynamometer Study of Dedicated Engine Strategies," SAE Technical Paper 1999-01-3568, 1999, https://doi.org/10.4271/1999-01-3568.Also In
References
- U.S. Department of Energy Office of Advanced Automotive Technologies “Energy Efficient Vehicles for a Cleaner Environment” March 1998
- Sinor, J.E. Bailey, B.K. “Current and Potential Future Performance of Ethanol Fuels″” SAE Paper # 930376 Society of Automotive Engineers Warrendale, PA 1993
- Dodge, L.G. Shouse, K. Grogan, J. Leone, D.M. Whitney, K.A. Merritt, P.M. “Development of an Ethanol-Fueled Ultra-Low Emissions Vehicle” SAE Paper # 981358 Society of Automotive Engineers Warrendale, PA 1998
- Nakajima, Y. Sugihara, K. Takagi, Y. Muranaka, S. “Effects of Exhaust Gas Recirculation on Fuel Consumption” Proc. Instn. Mech. Engrs. 195 369 376 London 1981
- Kuroda, H. Nakajima, Y. Sugihara, Y. Muranaka, S. “The Fast Burn with Heavy EGR, New Approach for Low NO x and Improved Fuel Economy” SAE Paper # 780006 Society of Automotive Engineers Warrendale, PA 1978
- Neame, G.R. Gardiner, D.P. Mallory, R.W. Rao, V.K. Bardon, M.F. Battista, V. “Improving the Fuel Economy of Stoichiometrically Fuelled S.I. Engines by means of EGR and Enhanced Ignition - A Comparison of Gasoline, Methanol, and Natural Gas” SAE Paper # 952376 Society of Automotive Engineers Warrendale, PA 1995
- Siewert, R.M. Mitchell, P.J. Maluwa, P.A. “Environmental Potential of Natural Gas Fuel for Light-Duty Vehicles: An Engine Dynamometer Study of Exhaust-Emission-Control Strategies and Fuel Consumption” SAE Paper # 932744 Society of Automotive Engineers Warrendale, PA 1993
- Brinkman, N.D. “Ethanol Fuel - A Single-Cylinder Engine Study of Efficiency and Exhaust Emissions” SAE Paper # 810345 Society of Automotive Engineers Warrendale, PA 1981