[Gasification] ETHANOL GASIFICATION FOR DIESEL ENGINES

[Benjamin Domingo Bof]

DIESEL ENGINES  Because of the fact that diesel engines do not use conventional spark ignition systems, it's difficult for pure alcohol to ignite within the combustion chamber. This, coupled with the fact that diesel injector pumps won't tolerate water, could be a problem ... especially if the alcohol used was not nearly pure.

Fortunately, there are several other ways to utilize homemade ethanol in a diesel engine by introducing vaporized alcohol to the engine along with diesel fuel. Probably the simplest way is to mount an automobile carburetor right on the diesel's air intake manifold and supplement the diesel fuel with alcohol metered through that piece of equipment. Of course - just as in a conventional gasoline engine - as incoming air rushes down the air inlet tube, it will pick up alcohol vapor metered through the carburetor ... which should have a controllable throttle to match tractor load.

Another way to use ethanol in a diesel engine is to install fuel injectors into the intake manifold to accomplish the same result. This system would require a separate pump that would have to be timed in order to inject alcohol at the proper moment.

A vaporizer - like those found on propane fuel systems - can also be used to add alcohol to the diesel fuel system. This, again, provides the diesel intake manifold with ethanol vapors that help combustion.

Since a diesel engine has closer tolerances and is more costly to repair than a conventional gasoline engine, you should take extreme care when altering and running diesel equipment on other than pure diesel fuel. If you don't consider yourself competent to work on diesels, find someone who is ... since the diesel fuel injector pump must be adjusted to provide less flow when alcohol fuel is used, plus the fact that a lean mixture condition - and even increased horsepower outputs - can damage a diesel engine in short order.

Turbocharged diesels can be equipped with what is known as an "aquahol" injection system, to be marketed by the M & W Gear Company of Gibson City, Illinois early in 1980. This setup injects a fine mist of alcohol and water in a 50/50 ratio directly into the engine's air intake, which results in a lowering of fuel consumption and a tolerable increase in horsepower.



       
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