Effect of Spark Plug Location on Combustion, Performance and Emission of High-Speed Digital Three Spark Ignition (DTSI) Engine Fueled with Gasoline and Hydrogen 2021-26-0227

The United Nations sustainable development goals can be met by reduced use of fossil fuels in the power & transportation sector and by protecting the environment. Various efforts to utilize alternative fuels (with low or without carbon contents) in the transportation sector are in the anvil. In this research, an experimental study is performed on a single cylinder gasoline engine of 200 cc with port fuel injection and digital three spark ignition (DTSI). The effect of spark plug location is analyzed using gasoline and hydrogen fuels separately. The combustion, performance, and emissions characteristics are analyzed at 6000 rpm, Wide Open Throttle (WOT) condition with a compression ratio of 11:1 for three different spark plug locations, i.e., at Center, Left-hand side and Right-hand side of combustion bowl. The following are the best results for a centrally located spark plug in comparison with the spark plug located at the sides. The volumetric efficiency is increased by 3.6% and 10% when tested with gasoline and hydrogen fuel; the maximum brake thermal efficiency (BTE) obtained for hydrogen is 38.05%, and gasoline is36.8%. The maximum combustion pressure recorded is 62.5 bar and 54.9 bar for gasoline and hydrogen fuel. The effects of spark plug locations on engine power output, the heat lost to the coolant, the heat lost to exhaust gases, unaccounted heat, heat release rate (HRR), and cumulative heat release rate (CHRR) are also studied. The net heat release rate (NHRR) is increased by 75 % with gasoline and 107 % with hydrogen. The mean gas temperature (MGT) recorded with gasoline is 2746 K, and 2232 K for hydrogen, this decrease in MGT for hydrogen is due to lean burn combustion at 1.6 equivalence ratio. The increase in NOx emission for gasoline and hydrogen fuel is 37.5 % and 58 % as the combustion is proper with increased NHRR, and MGT.