A Mathematical Expression to Predict the Influence of Ethanol Concentration on Distillation Behavior of Gasoline-Ethanol Fuel Blend and Impact of Non-Ionic Surfactant on E20 Fuel

• Published in: SAE International journal of advances and current practices in mobility 2020-04, Vol.2 (2), p.1085-1094, Article 2019-28-2386
• Main Authors: Mitra, Siddhartha, Adimoolam, Rajendiran, Sutar, Kashinath, Ganguli, Debashis
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2641-9645; 2641-9645
• DOI: 10.4271/2019-28-2386

Blending of primary alcohol in gasoline surges the vapour pressure significantly and exhibits azeotrope behaviour that effect severely on the atmospheric distillation yields. In this experiment, primary alcohol (Ethanol) were blended in varied volumetric proportion (5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%) with hydrocracked gasoline, influence on volatility behaviour and distillation properties were investigated. Physical properties of this blends were investigated for vapour pressure (VP), VLI, DI and distillation which were selected to evaluate the influence of alcohol in azeotrope behaviour of the fuel mix reflected through pattern of distillation curve (temperature vs % recovery range). This fuel mix exhibited rise in recovery at 700C (E70), VP, VLI and area of azeotrope with increase in % of alcohol volume in gasoline blend. A linear equation is established from the distillation data to predict the impact of % ethanol on % volume recovery and maximum temperature drop in distillation test of gasoline-ethanol fuel blends. Addition of non-ionic surfactant in ethanol blended gasoline (E20) reduces the azeotrope behaviour significantly and flattens the distillation curve. E70, vapour lock index (VLI), driveability index (DI) and area of azeotrope reduces proportionately with the increment of surfactant dosage (%) in E20. This provides a useful information for designing a suitable ethanol blended gasoline fuel, dedicated to spark ignition engine for all weather conditions.