Alternative Fuel Potential of Acetylene: Environmental Investigations of Working Characteristics in SI Engine

Abstract

The increasing demand for energy and the environmental concerns associated with conventional fossil fuels have driven researchers to explore alternative fuels for internal combustion engines. Among various options, acetylene has emerged as a promising candidate due to its high flame velocity, wide flammability limits, and lower ignition energy requirements. This study presents an experimental investigation of acetylene as a supplementary fuel in a spark ignition (SI) engine. The performance parameters such as brake thermal efficiency, specific fuel consumption, and exhaust gas temperature were analyzed under different operating conditions. Emission characteristics including carbon monoxide (CO), unburned hydrocarbons (HC), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) were also measured. The results indicate that acetylene enrichment leads to improved combustion efficiency and reduced CO and HC emissions compared to gasoline operation, although a marginal increase in NOx emissions was observed due to higher in-cylinder temperatures. Overall, the study demonstrates that acetylene has the potential to serve as a clean-burning alternative fuel in spark ignition engines, contributing to reduced dependence on petroleum-based fuels and mitigating environmental impacts.