Experimental study on performance, combustion, and emission behaviour of diisopropyl ether blends in MPFI SI engine

• Effect of adding diisopropyl ether oxygenate with gasoline in four-cylinder MPFI engine was performed.
• Addition of diisopropyl ether decreased 27.67% hydrocarbon and 25% carbon monoxide emissions.
• Oxygenate improved thermal efficiency by 3.56%.
• Change in ignition timing from 14 °bTDC to 12 °bTDC decreased NOx value from 5319 ppm to 4512 ppm.
• DIPE-gasoline blend produced higher in-cylinder pressure and heat release rate.

In this study, the effects of diisopropyl ether (DIPE)-gasoline (D10, D20, and D30) fuel blends on the performance, combustion, and emission characteristics of a spark ignition engine were investigated. In the study a four-stroke, four-cylinder multi-point fuel injection system (MPFI) engine with an eddy current dynamometer was used. The tests were performed at speeds between 1400 rpm and 2800 rpm under the load conditions of 20 N m and 25 N m. The results obtained from the DIPE-gasoline blends were compared with gasoline fuel. The DIPE-gasoline blends produced higher brake thermal efficiency, in-cylinder pressure, and heat release rates as compared to gasoline fuel. From emission point of view hydrocarbon (HC) and carbon monoxide (CO) emissions were found lesser, whereas carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions were observed higher in case if DIPE-gasoline blends compared to gasoline. However, retarding the ignition timing resulted in reduced NOx emission in DIPE-gasoline blends.