Effects of Engine Performance Parameters and Vibration Level of the Engine Block Operated with Gasoline and Ethanol Fuel

In recent years, the use of ethanol fuel in internal combustion engines has gained importance due to environmental and commercial factors, since ethanol produces lower emission rates at similar performance parameters compared to gasoline fuel. The objective of this study is to evaluate and compare the effects of engine performance parameters on the vibration level of the engine block operated with gasoline and ethanol fuel. The experimental tests consisted of operating an Otto cycle engine on a bench dynamometer under full load conditions varying rotation and correlating the vertical, longitudinal and transverse vibration levels of the block engine with the engine performance parameters. The results showed that the engine vibration level was influenced by engine speed, load, type of fuel and performance parameters of the engine. The combustion process is primarily responsible for the highest level of vibration reached when using ethanol as a fuel. Under all operating conditions, the vibration level of the engine block was highest when using ethanol compared to the engine run on gasoline. On average, the transverse engine vibration was higher than vertical and longitudinal engine vibration. This study holds relevance as it correlates the longitudinal, vertical and transverse vibration level of the block of an internal combustion engine, as is found in an engine combustion process fueled by ethanol and gasoline.