Production of producer gas and its use as the supplementary fuel for SI engine

This study was completed in two phases. The first phase consists of the design and fabrication of a small-capacity updraft gasifier followed by the production of producer gas from the wood by biomass gasification and momentarily storing the gas in a tube. The second phase consists of the use of producer gas as a supplementary fuel in a petrol engine with minor modification on the engine's suction side. The main objective of this study was to produce a producer gas via wood gasification process through the fabricated small updraft gasifier and find its potential as a supplementary fuel along with petrol fuel in conventional SI engine. Through the experimental investigation, the performance and emission characteristics of the engine running on dual fuel mode were evaluated; the result was compared with the engine running on pure petrol. The result reveals that a reduction in engine efficiency as 1-1.5% in the entire load spectrum but de-rating of engine power was compensated by an improved emissions level in dual fuel mode in terms of reduction in HC, CO, and NO emission of 27%, 22%, and 19% respectively.

Automated summary

This study conducted the design and fabrication of a small-capacity updraft gasifier to produce producer gas from wood and used it as supplementary fuel in a petrol engine. The experimental results showed a slight decrease in engine efficiency but significant improvement in emission levels in dual fuel mode.