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Combustion Parameters of A Dual-Fuel Diesel-LPG Engine Operating at Partial Loads

Ali Diané, Yomi Woro Gounkaou, Boubou Bagré, Jacques Nébié, Tizane Daho, Antoine Béré
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21013/jas.v21.n2.p4
Abstract

Burkina Faso has a low rate of access to electricity, characterized by disparities between residential areas. In 2024, the electrification rate stood at 34.2%, with only 10.2% in rural areas. To address this shortfall, electricity generation using stationary diesel engines is a promising solution. However, the cost of diesel limits the use of these engines in conventional diesel mode. Thus, the use of alternative gaseous fuels such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) appears to be a viable solution. The engine operates in dual fuel mode, with LPG as the primary fuel. This study examines the combustion characteristics of a Lister Petter diesel engine using LPG as an alternative gaseous fuel. The objective is to compare the engine’s combustion parameters in both operating modes (pure diesel and dual fuel). An analysis of cylinder pressure curves and heat release rates shows combustion parameters comparable to those of pure diesel. However, dual-fuel mode results in lower pressure peaks, particularly at low loads. An 8.5% reduction in maximum pressure in the diesel-LPG mode at 20% load. The introduction of gas prolongs the ignition delay, enhances the diffusive combustion phase, and extends the duration of combustion. Furthermore, the relative instability of combustion in dual-fuel mode results in an increase in the coefficient of variation of the indicated mean pressure (COVIMEP). At 20% load, the COVIMEP reaches 11.5% in diesel-LPG mode while maintaining stable engine operation. These results point toward the future use of syngas on a test bench built around the Lister Petter engine.

Keywords
Dual fuel ; diesel engine; LPG ; combustion characteristics.
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