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Use of biofuels derived from biomass, bioethanol, biodiesel, etc., are being seriously viewed from multidimensional perspective of depleting fossil fuel resources, environmental health, energy security, agrarian economy and new avenues of gainful employment. For the best use of available biofuels in diesel, a new blend was prepared which constituted 85% diesel + 5% ethanol + 10% biodiesel and was evaluated on Light Commercial Vehicle. This paper discusses the systematic performance evaluation of blended fuels and is compared with neat diesel with respect to lubricity, fuel economy in the steady speed ranges of 40 - 70 km/hr, driving cycle fuel economy, exhaust emissions like CO, HC, CO₂, O₂, NOx, smoke and characterization of particulates including particle size distribution. Synergy of 5% ethanol + 10% biodiesel in diesel was compared with diesel when the fuel was used as individual blends.

Part substitution of alcohol in gasoline alters the composition and combustion characteristics leading to different particulates as emitted by individual fuel. This paper presents the test work done on characterisation of particulate number concentration emitted from four stroke engine powered two wheeler with neat Euro III gasoline and its blend with ethanol (5, 10, 20 & 30 %) using Electrical Low Pressure Impactor (ELPI). The characterisation of particulates was carried out under different operating conditions viz. Indian Driving Cycle (IDC), Road Load Simulation (RLS) and Wide Open Throttle (WOT) conditions on Chassis Dynamometer with the test fuels. It was observed from the study that for all the test fuels, the number concentration increases as the particulate size reduces. Further, it was observed that addition of ethanol in neat Euro III gasoline has reduced the particulate number concentration both in transient and steady speed conditions.

An experimental study was conducted on in-use and new, Indian two-wheelers to study the effect of gasoline composition (olefins, aromatics and benzene) on exhaust mass emissions. Exhaust emissions of benzene were also measured. The study was conducted on six makes of new and in-use, two-wheelers consisting of popular 2-stroke and 4-stroke, mopeds, scooters and motorcycles. Three test fuels, a high olefin gasoline, a high aromatic gasoline and a Euro-III equivalent gasoline were used for the study. High olefin test gasoline contained 26.5% olefins, 10.3% aromatics and 0.3% benzene. High aromatic test gasoline contained 0.9% olefins, 61.9% aromatics and 1.5% benzene. Euro-III test gasoline contained 15.9% olefins, 37.4% aromatics and 0.9% benzene. Intake system deposit study was also conducted on 4-stroke motorcycles and two-stroke scooters having separate lubrication, using two fuels, i.e. high olefin gasoline and Euro-III gasoline, with and without the use of multi-function additives.

Field trials were conducted on two-stroke engine powered two-wheelers with 5%, 10 % ethanol and 3 % methanol. The performance and emissions of vehicles operating on these fuels were compared to those with neat gasoline up to 20,000 km. No significant change in fuel economy was observed with 5 % ethanol and 3 % methanol, however about 1.1 % loss was observed with 10 % ethanol. Emission test conducted after mileage build-up showed reduction of carbon monoxide (CO) with 5 % and 10 % ethanol, while increase of CO was observed with 3% methanol. Total hydrocarbon emissions increased on mileage build-up with all the test fuels. Merit rating of engine components after 20,000 km indicated that the ratings were better for 5 % ethanol blended gasoline. Startability and drivability problems were observed with 3% methanol after completing 10,000 km.