Acetylene Gas as An Alternative Fuel for S.I. Engine

Transcription

1 Acetylene Gas as An Alternative Fuel for S.I. Engine Jaydeep S.Solanki 1, Dhruvit V.Ratanpara 2, Hitesh B.Daki 3 and Rohit D.Solanki 4 1,2,3,4 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Dr.Subhash Technical Campus-Junagadh, Gujarat, India. Article Received: 29 January 2018 Article Accepted: 30 March 2018 Article Published: 24 April 2018 AB ST R ACT Studies reveal that Acetylene gas produced from the reaction of water and calcium carbide is renewable in nature and exhibits similar properties to those of hydrogen gas. We conducted an experimental investigation on a single cylinder, petrol engine and then tested with pure petrol and with Acetylene gas. Experiments were conducted to study the performance characteristics of petrol engine by inserting Acetylene gas in the inlet manifold and blends as an ignition source. From the detailed study it has been concluded that the acetylene gas give gives less emission than petrol. Thus reducing the running cost and minimum pollutant emission, this makes it fit for use on economic and environment standard. It is more effective and eco-friendly alternative fuel option. Thus this project is an attempt for the use of an alternative resource such that it can prove to be useful for the peoples in future. Keywords: Acetylene, alternate fuel, S.I. engine, gas, water and calcium carbide. 1. INTRODUCTION As we know in the entire world there will be usage of mechanical and automobile products in the future and is increasing rapidly. With the use of mechanical and automobile equipment widely in usual there are also arising certain problems related to it. Generally in automobile the problem of more fuel consumption and more emission of exhaust gasses are seen. The present research activity deals with an experimental study on Internal Combustion Engines running on acetylene. The latter is actually used to control detonation phenomena. At the same time, acetylene takes part in combustion as fuel. The main goal of the present research activity is to use acetylene gas as alternate fuel and the reduction of the pollutant emissions. Also, it has been obtained the chance of running an ICE on acetylene that is a non crude oil derivate fuel. The principal objective and advantages of the present project include of providing a fuel comprising acetylene as a primary fuel for an internal combustion engine and providing such a fuel which gives better results and would be economical than other fuels. The aim is to overcome the shortcomings which prevent the use of acetylene as a fuel in IC engine. Acetylene is produced by calcium carbide with water in the following reaction: Calcium Carbide + Water Acetylene+Calcium Hydroxide CaCO 3 + 2H 2 O C 2 H 2 + Ca(OH) Acetylene is produced by mixing calcium carbide with water in on-board tank. This acetylene on combustion burns to give carbon dioxide with water vapors. But as it has high ignition temperature certain engine modification are required. 1 P a g e Website:

2 2. ACETYLENE GAS Acetylene (C 2 H 2 ) is not only an air gas but also a synthesis gas generally produced from the reaction of calcium carbide with water. It was burnt in "acetylene lamps" to light homes and mining tunnels in the 19th century. A gaseous hydrocarbon, has a strong garlic odor, it is colorless, is unstable, highly combustible, and produces a very hot flame when combined with oxygen. Acetylene is generally produced by reacting calcium carbide with water. The reaction is continuously occurring and can be conducted without any sophisticated equipment or apparatus. Such produced acetylene has been utilized for lighting by street vendors, in mine areas etc. People often call such lighting sources carbide lamps or carbide light Industrial uses of acetylene as a fuel for motors or lighting sources, however, have been nearly nonexistent. In modern times, the use of acetylene as a fuel has been largely limited to welding-related applications or acetylene torches for welding. 3. COMPARISON OF ACETYLENE GAS WITH OTHER FUELS To meet the combustion specifications, acetylene is compared with other fuels like hydrogen, gasoline, etc. Table 1 Comparison of acetylene gas with other fuels Properties Acetylene Hydrogen CNG Petrol Composition C 2 H 2 H 2 Ch 4 :86.490% C 8 H 18 Density kg/m3 (At 1 atm & 20 o c) Auto ignition temp( o C) Stiochiometric air fuel ratio (kg/kg) Flamability Limits (Volume %) Lower Calorific Value (kj/kg) Ignition energy (MJ) Lower Calorific Value (kj/m3) Ignition energy (MJ) Flamability Limits (Equivalent ratio) WORKING METHODOLOGY The working includes of production of acetylene. It is done by mixing water with calcium carbide. Then it is stored in the tank and then passed through the vaporizer. The fuel is injected in the engine and the combustion process is carried. The exhaust consists of carbon dioxide and calcium hydroxide 2 P a g e Website:

3 Figure 1 Flow chart of acetylene in S.I. engine 5. ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS The molecular weight of acetylene is 26 with two carbon atoms (C2H2 gas density = lb/ft3 typically the Material and Safety Data sheet will provide this detail of information) while the molecular weight of CO2 is 44 with one carbon 66 atom. Given that each mole of acetylene, under complete combustion, will create two moles of CO2 (i.e., each pound of acetylene combusted will produce 3.38 pounds of CO2 (2x44/26)). The result obtained from this calculation illustrates that the amount of CO2 emitted is fairly minimum and other emissions like NOx, Sox are highly negligible compared to CO2. This indicates that acetylene can be relatively more environmental friendly than gasoline. APPLICATION A good replacement for gasoline and petrol. It can be used in place of LPG directly with minor manipulation in engine. As it emits CO2, so it is more ecofriendly thus its use can be beneficial in countries like India where in year 2050 fossil fuel will get depleted as shown by studies. It is used as alternative fuel and less reduction is caused. Homogenous mixture is formed due to which complete combustion. 6. ADVANTAGES Emission is non-polluting as only carbon dioxide and water vapors are emitted. Better efficiency. It is very cheap and available in abundance. It uses same handling system which is used in CNG and LPG cylinders. 3 P a g e Website:

4 It has very low Photochemical Ozone creation Potential. An engine operated on such a fuel can be interchangeably utilized for indoor and outdoor operations without environmental concerns 7. DISADVANTAGES Modification in SI engine is required Knocking possibilities. Decrease in power of engine. It cannot be available everywhere because there are no filling station as it is a new initiative. 8. FUTURE SCOPE In nearby future, fossil future going to exhaust soon and at present we are facing acute scarcity of fuel due to which prices are rising day by day. On the other acetylene is cheap and is produced form calcium carbonate which is in abundance. Another advantage which justifies the use of acetylene in future is in the exhaust emission. On one hand fossil fuel during combustion produces CO2, CO, NOx, Some unburnt hydrocarbon are produces but in case of acetylene carbon dioxide is produced with traces of water vapors. Acetylene being gas makes better homogenous mixture with air therefore better mixing of fuel which leads to better combustion; this is not possible with conventional SI engine fuel. 9. CONCLUSION The study highlights the use of acetylene as a fuel for SI engine; this fuel can be used with conventional S.I. engine with minor fabrication and manipulations. As acetylene has wide range of merits on environmental as well as economic grounds. It produces only carbon dioxide during combustion and is less costly than conventional fuel acetylene is produced from calcium carbonate which is in abundance. Acetylene have proved out to be better fuel due its non polluting nature and more economic. Therefore, it is possible to obtain lower pollutant emissions rather than the original configuration. In conclusion, the new engine configuration based on acetylene-alcohol represents a good alternative to gasoline and diesel engines in terms of pollutant emissions, as well as engine performance. REFERENCES 1. Prabin K. Sharma et al.: Use of Acetylene as an Alternative Fuel in IC Engine proceeding of Rentech Symposium Compendium, Volume 1, March J. B. Heywood, Internal Combustion Engine Fundamentals, McGraw-Hill, Inc., New York, Chigier N (1981) "Energy, Combustion and Environment", McGraw Hill. 4. J. Wulff, W.Hulett, L. Sunggyu, Internal combustion system using acetylene fuel. United States Patent No P a g e Website:

5 5. N. Swami, J.M. Mallikarjuna, A. Ramesh, HCCI engine operation with acetylene the fuel. SAE paper no V.M.S. Ashok, N.I. Khan, Experimental investigation on use of welding gas (Acetylene) on SI Engine. Proceedings of AER Conference, IIT, Ganesan V. Internal combustion engine. 3rd ed. Singapore: McGraw Hill Book Company; Abián M, Silva S. L, Millera A, Bilbao R, Alzueta M.U. Effect of operating conditions on NO reduction by acetylene ethanol mixtures. Fuel Processing Technology 2010; 91: Lakshmanan T, Nagarajan G. Study on using acetylene in dual fuel mode with exhaust gas recirculation. Energy 2011; 36: BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES Jaydeep S. Solanki has completed diploma in Mechanical Engineering from Government Polytechnic Porbandar in year 2015, and pursuing B.E. from Dr.Subhash Technical campus- Junagadh in Mechanical Dhruvit V. Ratanpara has completed diploma in Mechanical Engineering from BBIT, V.V. Nagar in year 2015, and pursuing B.E. from Dr. Subhash Technical campus- Junagadh in Mechanical Hitesh B. Daki has completed diploma in Mechanical Engineering from Government Polytechnic Porbandar in year 2015, and pursuing B.E. from Dr. Subhash Technical campus-junagadh in Mechanical Rohit D. Solanki has completed diploma in Mechanical Engineering from Government Polytechnic Rajkot in year 2015, and pursuing B.E. from Dr. Subhash Technical campus-junagadh in Mechanical 5 P a g e Website: