Prediction of Ternary Gasoline Composition Using Light and Heavy Alcohols to Reduce Fuel Consumption and Meet Emission Standards

It is widely believed that fuel components of spark-ignition engines are mainly light alcohols. In order to change this state of affairs, it was assumed that it is possible to create fuel mixtures with heavy alcohols or light and heavy alcohols together, obtaining in latter case alternative ternary fuels. The hypothesis was adopted that such a fuel blend may contain any proportion of individual components. The truth of the hypothesis was demonstrated by preparing a number of mixtures of isooctane with ethyl and butyl alcohol, which were homogeneous and did not stratify even after prolonged storage. The research methodology adopted in this study is based on the assumption that composition of ternary fuels should be consistent with the relevant design of experiment, while assessment of the impact of composition on engine parameters should be made by operating a multi-equation mathematical model, and each of these equations, as a sub-model, must be statistically verified. Boundary conditions of the mathematical model were determined based on research on a real object. Fuel mixtures were based on the Simplex design of experiment. Forcing factors in this plan were volume shares of fuel components. In total, 11 mixtures were prepared and tested, on basis of which it was possible to forecast many engine operating parameters. Adopting appropriate compromises, it can be indicated that most advantageous mixture in terms of all analyzed parameters will be one in which the composition will contain about 80% v/v of isooctane supplemented with ethanol and butanol in a wide proportion.