Residual Gas and Emission Characteristics in a Propane-Fueled Spark-Ignition Engine with Varying Combustion Durations

This research investigates the impact of combustion duration on combustion characteristics, emissions, and residual gas in a propane-fueled spark ignition engine under varying engine speeds. Using a two-cylinder V-twin engine and AVL-Boost simulation, experiments were conducted at speeds ranging from 3000 to 8000 rpm with combustion durations between 40° and 80° crank angle. The study integrates simulation and experimental methods to address challenges in measuring residual gas and effective release energy (ERE) under different conditions. Results show that longer combustion durations generally lead to increased residual gas and BSFC, while also influencing peak fire temperature, effective release energy, and emission characteristics. At 3000 rpm, optimal conditions were observed with a peak BMEP of 11.11 bar, torque of 25.01 Nm, power output of 14.87 kW, and a minimum BSFC of 311.43 g/kWh. Longer combustion durations elevated the residual gas, reaching up to 0.946 at 8000 rpm, and were associated with higher BSFC and lower combustion efficiency. Emissions were also evaluated: hydrocarbons (HC), carbon monoxide (CO), and carbon dioxide (CO₂) rose with engine speed, while nitrogen oxides (NOx) decreased due to reduced peak combustion temperatures.