Abstract:
Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) has long been used as an alternative fuel in 2-stroke SI engine of Tuk-Tuk which is the local name of three-wheel taxi in Thailand. However, there was not efficiently operated because the un-matched conventional LPG metering system does not always provide corrected mixture throughout their normal operating range. This research was aimed to investigate the design parameters and the performance characteristics of in-house developed LPG variable venturi metering system for a two stroke SI engine. Using this developed unit, the engine required equivalent ratio and MBT timing were calibrated for an optimum efficiency path. It was found that, using the developed metering unit, the optimum equivalent ration can be achieved by controlling two control parameters; namely regulating pressure and venture opening area. The regulating pressure can be altered by means of adjusting a regulator valve. The venturi opening area can be adjusted by means of adjusting an pintle position by a stepping motor. This metering system can almost provide required LPG for engine to operate along its optimum efficiency path except at engine speed of 4000 rev/min at WOT. This is because of the maximum limited operating pressure of gas meter that was employed for the LPG flow measurement. The optimum performance obtained by this developed system were compared to the performance and efficiency obtained from either the conventional LPG or OEM gasoline engine. It was found that the engine with variable venturi metering system can give the highest thermal efficiency for all load and speed of the testing range. Its maximum efficiency was 9.5% and 15.2% higher than that of conventional LPG engine and OEM engine respectively. However, the brake torque of engine with this system are 4% and 14% lower than that of conventional LPG and OEM engine. Moreover, it should be noted that, with this variable LPG metering system, the operating mixture was leaner at all engine testing conditions.