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The paper presents results from investigation on a new type of fuel which can be implemented for the both automotive and power industry. The proposed fuel is of a completely renewable origin based on ethanol and glycerol at the ratio of 3:1 (75% and 25%), respectively. Hence, it does not contribute to unsustainable CO 2 emissions to the atmosphere. The analysis of combusting the ethanol-glycerol blend in the spark-ignited reciprocating engine was focused on engine performance, combustion thermodynamics, and toxicity content in the exhaust gases. The analysis was conducted as a comparative analysis for gasoline and ethanol, which were treated as reference fuels. The toxic emissions of CO, NOx, and unburnt hydrocarbons (UHC) did not differ remarkably from the gasoline emissions tests. The engine performance expressed by the indicated mean effective pressure deteriorated less than 3%. It was found that the ethanol-glycerol blend at the ratio of 3:1 (75/25%) can be directly applied as a substitute fuel for either gasoline or ethanol in internal combustion engines in the automotive and power industry. [Display omitted] • Investigation of ethanol-glycerol blend (3,1) for the internal combustion engine. • The engine performance (IMEP) deteriorated less than 3%. • Exhaust emissions of the blend are at similar level of gasoline 95 emissions tests. • Ethanol-glycerol blend can be applied as fuel for the spark-ignited engine. • Glycerol blended ethanol - considered an economic and energy-effective technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The paper presents results and discussion on syngas combustion in a spark ignited internal combustion engine driving a power generator (16kW/1500rpm). The syngas applied as the engine fuel is produced by gasifying municipal sewage sludge. Unlike fermentation biogas, the syngas obtained from sewage sludge gasification is found a fuel, which generates several difficulties (non-stable combustion, misfiring events) while burning in the SI engine. The analysis of cycle-by-cycle engine run shows that the engine working on syngas features will run unsteadily due to the occurrence of misfiring events caused by the relatively low calorific value of the syngas. Thus, combustion of such a syngas in the SI IC engine can generate malfunctions. Therefore, the syngas was enriched with methane at various ratios starting from 0% up to 60% by volume. The impact of methane addition on the engine performance and exhaust emission was also presented in the paper. As investigated, 40% methane enrichment in the syngas was found sufficient amounts to obtain satisfactory engine run. Thus, in practice, the syngas from sewage sludge gasification is a troublesome fuel, but can satisfactorily be applied to the SI engine when enriched with natural gas or biogas. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]