IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v13y2020i13p3499-d381223.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Improving Fuel Economy and Engine Performance through Gasoline Fuel Octane Rating

Author

Listed:
  • José Rodríguez-Fernández

    (Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Industrial, University of Castilla—La Mancha, 13071 Ciudad Real, Castilla–La Mancha, Spain)

  • Ángel Ramos

    (Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Industrial, University of Castilla—La Mancha, 13071 Ciudad Real, Castilla–La Mancha, Spain)

  • Javier Barba

    (Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Industrial, University of Castilla—La Mancha, 13071 Ciudad Real, Castilla–La Mancha, Spain)

  • Dolores Cárdenas

    (Repsol Technology Lab, 28935 Móstoles, Madrid, Spain)

  • Jesús Delgado

    (Repsol Technology Lab, 28935 Móstoles, Madrid, Spain)

Abstract

The octane number is a measure of the resistance of gasoline fuels to auto-ignition. Therefore, high octane numbers reduce the engine knocking risk, leading to higher compression threshold and, consequently, higher engine efficiencies. This allows higher compression ratios to be considered during the engine design stage. Current spark-ignited (SI) engines use knock sensors to protect the engine from knocking, usually adapting the operation parameters (boost pressure, spark timing, lambda). Moreover, some engines can move the settings towards optimized parameters if knock is not detected, leading to higher performance and fuel economy. In this work, three gasolines with different octane ratings (95, 98 and 100 RON (research octane number)) were fueled in a high-performance vehicle. Tests were performed in a chassis dyno at controlled ambient conditions, including a driving sequence composed of full-load accelerations and two steady-state modes. Vehicle power significantly increased with the octane rating of the fuel, thus decreasing the time needed for acceleration. Moreover, the specific fuel consumption decreased as the octane rating increased, proving that the fuel can take an active part in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The boost pressure, which increased with the octane number, was identified as the main factor, whereas the ignition advance was the second relevant factor.

Suggested Citation

  • José Rodríguez-Fernández & Ángel Ramos & Javier Barba & Dolores Cárdenas & Jesús Delgado, 2020. "Improving Fuel Economy and Engine Performance through Gasoline Fuel Octane Rating," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-14, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:13:p:3499-:d:381223
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/13/3499/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/13/3499/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Wei, Haiqiao & Zhu, Tianyu & Shu, Gequn & Tan, Linlin & Wang, Yuesen, 2012. "Gasoline engine exhaust gas recirculation – A review," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 534-544.
    2. Zhen, Xudong & Wang, Yang & Xu, Shuaiqing & Zhu, Yongsheng & Tao, Chengjun & Xu, Tao & Song, Mingzhi, 2012. "The engine knock analysis – An overview," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 628-636.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Karol Tucki, 2021. "A Computer Tool for Modelling CO 2 Emissions in Driving Cycles for Spark Ignition Engines Powered by Biofuels," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-33, March.
    2. Jian Gao & Anren Yao & Yeyi Zhang & Guofan Qu & Chunde Yao & Shemin Zhang & Dongsheng Li, 2021. "Investigation into the Relationship between Super-Knock and Misfires in an SI GDI Engine," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-18, April.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Wang, Shuofeng & Ji, Changwei & Zhang, Bo & Liu, Xiaolong, 2014. "Lean burn performance of a hydrogen-blended gasoline engine at the wide open throttle condition," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 43-50.
    2. Li, Yangtao & Khajepour, Amir & Devaud, Cécile & Liu, Kaimin, 2017. "Power and fuel economy optimizations of gasoline engines using hydraulic variable valve actuation system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 206(C), pages 577-593.
    3. Li, Yangtao & Khajepour, Amir & Devaud, Cécile, 2018. "Realization of variable Otto-Atkinson cycle using variable timing hydraulic actuated valve train for performance and efficiency improvements in unthrottled gasoline engines," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 222(C), pages 199-215.
    4. De Bellis, Vincenzo, 2016. "Performance optimization of a spark-ignition turbocharged VVA engine under knock limited operation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 162-174.
    5. Rami Y. Dahham & Haiqiao Wei & Jiaying Pan, 2022. "Improving Thermal Efficiency of Internal Combustion Engines: Recent Progress and Remaining Challenges," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-60, August.
    6. Bozza, Fabio & De Bellis, Vincenzo & Teodosio, Luigi, 2016. "Potentials of cooled EGR and water injection for knock resistance and fuel consumption improvements of gasoline engines," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 169(C), pages 112-125.
    7. Tornatore, Cinzia & Bozza, Fabio & De Bellis, Vincenzo & Teodosio, Luigi & Valentino, Gerardo & Marchitto, Luca, 2019. "Experimental and numerical study on the influence of cooled EGR on knock tendency, performance and emissions of a downsized spark-ignition engine," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 968-976.
    8. Jung, Dongwon & Lee, Sejun, 2018. "An investigation on the potential of dedicated exhaust gas recirculation for improving thermal efficiency of stoichiometric and lean spark ignition engine operation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 228(C), pages 1754-1766.
    9. De Bellis, Vincenzo & Bontempo, Rodolfo, 2018. "Development and validation of a 1D model for turbocharger compressors under deep-surge operation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 507-517.
    10. Zhao, Jinxing, 2017. "Research and application of over-expansion cycle (Atkinson and Miller) engines – A review," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(P1), pages 300-319.
    11. Yang, Zhuyong & Miganakallu, Niranjan & Miller, Tyler & Bonfochi Vinhaes, Vinicius & Worm, Jeremy & Naber, Jeffrey & Roth, David, 2020. "Investigation of high load operation of spark-ignited over-expanded Atkinson cycle engine," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 262(C).
    12. Soo-Jin Jeong, 2024. "CFD Simulation of Pre-Chamber Spark-Ignition Engines—A Perspective Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-39, September.
    13. Yang, Zhimin & Zhang, Yanchao & Dong, Qingchun & Lin, Jian & Lin, Guoxing & Chen, Jincan, 2018. "Maximum power output and parametric choice criteria of a thermophotovoltaic cell driven by automobile exhaust," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 28-35.
    14. Tehseen Johar & Chiu-Fan Hsieh, 2023. "Design Challenges in Hydrogen-Fueled Rotary Engine—A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-22, January.
    15. Benajes, J. & Novella, R. & Gomez-Soriano, J. & Martinez-Hernandiz, P.J. & Libert, C. & Dabiri, M., 2019. "Evaluation of the passive pre-chamber ignition concept for future high compression ratio turbocharged spark-ignition engines," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 248(C), pages 576-588.
    16. Zhen, Xudong & Wang, Yang, 2013. "Study of ignition in a high compression ratio SI (spark ignition) methanol engine using LES (large eddy simulation) with detailed chemical kinetics," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 549-558.
    17. Dardiotis, Christos & Martini, Giorgio & Marotta, Alessandro & Manfredi, Urbano, 2013. "Low-temperature cold-start gaseous emissions of late technology passenger cars," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 468-478.
    18. Kim, Keunsoo & Kim, Junghwan & Oh, Seungmook & Kim, Changup & Lee, Yonggyu, 2017. "Evaluation of injection and ignition schemes for the ultra-lean combustion direct-injection LPG engine to control particulate emissions," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 194(C), pages 123-135.
    19. Amaral, Lucimar Venâncio & Santos, Nathália Duarte Souza Alvarenga & Roso, Vinícius Rückert & Sebastião, Rita de Cássia de Oliveira & Pujatti, Fabrício José Pacheco, 2021. "Effects of gasoline composition on engine performance, exhaust gases and operational costs," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    20. La Xiang & Enzhe Song & Yu Ding, 2018. "A Two-Zone Combustion Model for Knocking Prediction of Marine Natural Gas SI Engines," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-23, March.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:13:p:3499-:d:381223. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.