Performance optimization of 2 Cylinder Flex Fuel Engine for Small Commercial vehicle – A STEP TOWARDS SUSTAINABILITY

Increasing ethanol blending in gasoline is significant from sustainability point of view. Flex Fuel is an ethanol-gasoline blend containing ethanol ranging from 20% to 85%. Flex Fuel emerges as an exceptionally advantageous solution, adeptly addressing the shortcomings associated with both gasoline and ethanol. Performance optimization of flex fuel is major challenge as fuel properties varies with ethanol %, like knocking tendency, calorific value, vapour pressure, latent heat and stoichiometric Air Fuel Ratio etc. This paper elaborates the experimental results of trials conducted for optimization of engine performance with Flex Fuel for 2 cylinder engine used for Small Commercial Vehicle. In order to derive maximum benefit from the higher octane rating of ethanol fuel, compression ratio is increased. EMS calibration activities were conducted with E20 and E85 fuel and intermediate fuel performance was optimized using interpolation method. Fuel injection pressure is increased to address higher fuel flow requirement. Fuel heater is added to address cold start. Ethanol content detection is done through software. Vehicle can operate with any % of ethanol in the fuel ranging from E20 to E85. Content adaptation is done on the go through software.