Abstract
Grain alcohol (C2H5OH) represents an alternative at classical fuels, with an important using perspective due to its compatible properties with spark ignition engine operating condition requirements - high octane number- and also due to its manufacturing, storage and distribution possibilities (obtaining ethanol from agricultural products represent an low cost and ecological process).
Ethanol can be use in SI engine as a single fuel or in different proportion blends with gasoline. Ethanol is a superior fuel comparative with gasoline, assuring the thermal efficiency increase and a lower pollutants emission level, especially for NOX and CO.
The proposed paper presents the results of experimental research carried on the IT 9 - 2M octane number engine, when the engine is fuelled with ethanol-gasoline blends at different proportions in order to establish the gasoline-ethanol blend knock behaviour and flame propagation velocity.
Keywords: ethanol, knock, ionisation plug, compression ration, octane number