Feasibility Evaluation of Reformed Methanol Usage to Spark Ignition Engine

To improve the cold starting and low load driveability problem in a methanol fueled car, a reformed methanol fueled S. I. engine with a small methanol reformer using exhaust thermal energy as a heat source was developed and tested.

A half of methanol supplied to engine was reformed to hydrogen and carbon monoxide, and the rest was supplied in a liquid state.

As a result, this engine produces less power than the neat methanol fueled engine. But brake specific fuel consumption of this engine is lower based on the calorific value than that of neat methanol fueled engine in the wide range of excess air ratio.

The CO emission levels are not significantly different, whereas the HC emission levels are lower than those from the neat methanol fueled engine. The NOx emission levels are higher than those from the neat but this problem can be solved by lean burn.