[Gasification] WET ETHANOL IN DIESEL ENGINES

[AJH]

On Fri, 23 May 2008 11:00:46 -0300, Kevin Chisholm wrote:

>> FWIW, an engine running on methanol will have a better bte over the entire rpm range than a diesel engine will. 
>>   
>
>Very interesting!! Would you know why this is so?

There are a number of reasons but the principle two are that a diesel
engine has to run weak of stoich to avoid black smoke and modern high
speed diesels are burning their charge over a longer period than the
equivalent si engine, whilst the piston is already descending, so the
latter part of the burn is expanding the gases through a lower volume
change. This latter is insignificant in a low speed diesel.

This is what makes a hit'n'miss engine look appealing for producer gas
as it gives the benefit of the spark ignition with the part load
efficiency of a diesel.