Abstract
The paper presented the investigation of using Butanol as an alternative fuel in SI engine. The work is carried out on a 4G-33 Mitsubishi gasoline engine of which measuring instruments and devices already installed in the Mechanical Engineering Laboratory. Butanol-Gasoline Blends were tested on the engine at different speed with varying loads. Engine performances were studied to investigate the most suitable blend of butanol-gasoline. Butanol was extracted from agricultural wastes in Thailand by researcher of the Chemical Engineering Department, Chulalongkorn University. Properties of Butanol and Butanol-Gasoline Blends were analysed. Butanol-Gasoline Blends up to 85:15 were tested. The maximum blends could be used in 70:30 which will give smooth power output at high speed, but will cause some knock at low speed. The higher percentage of Butanol Blends, the lower power output from the engine. This is due to the heating value of the butanol compare to gasoline. To obtain better performance, further work should be carried out by using fuel injection system and determine the proper A/F ratio and also the appropriate injection timing.