Environmental and enviro-economic effect analysis of hydrogen-methanol-gasoline addition into an SI engine

This paper provides a novel approach to the environmental and enviro-economic assessment of an SI engine at various loads (25Nm, 50Nm, 75 Nm, 100 Nm, and full load) using different fuel blends such as methanol-gasoline (20% methanol + 80% gasoline in volumetric), and hydrogen-methanol-gasoline (methanol-gasoline blend + 5% hydrogen). Environmental and enviro-economic analysis methods are applied based on emitted carbon amount in the atmosphere and carbon price. The average brake-specific fuel consumption value was observed to substantially increase the rate by 12.82% with the methanol and a reduction of 4.34% with the hydrogen addition. Moreover, the maximum engine torque increased by 4.15% with hydrogen at full engine load. The average values of the annual CO2 environmental effect were calculated at 29.02 tCO2/y, 29.06 tCO2/y, and 28.51 tCO2/y for gasoline, methanol, and hydrogen fuel blends, respectively. The environmental impact of CO2 values slightly increased by 0.11% with adding methanol to gasoline. However, a reduction was observed at 1.89% with the hydrogen addition. The average value of NO decreased by 2.25% with methanol, whereas it dramatically increased by 5.80% with hydrogen. The average values of the annual CO2 enviro-economic effect were obtained at 1863.98 $/y, 1866.02 $/y, and 1830.67 $/y for gasoline, methanol, and hydrogen fuel blends, respectively. The best engine parameters and the environmental effect values were obtained at 77.80 Nm, 286.93 g/kWh, and 28.99 tCO2/y according to over-fuel consumption and over-pollution amount. For the enviro-economic overpollution cost, the best results have occurred at 83.03 Nm, 278.90 g/kWh, and 1960.20 $/y. The obtained results will present a new perspective for evaluating the use of alternative fuels in internal combustion engines. Thus, further investigations are required to assess alternative fuels' longer-term environmental and enviro-economic impacts.

Automated summary

This paper presents a novel approach to assess the environmental and enviro-economic impact of an SI engine under different loads and fuel blends. The results show that adding methanol to gasoline increases the fuel consumption rate while adding hydrogen reduces it. Methanol slightly increases the CO2 environmental impact, whereas hydrogen significantly reduces it. Methanol decreases NO emissions, while hydrogen increases it. The study also calculates the enviro-economic effect of the different fuel blends. The findings provide new insights into the use of alternative fuels in internal combustion engines.