Syngas Use in Internal Combustion Engines - A Review
Richard P. Bates
Department of Paper and Bioprocess Engineering (PBE), College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF), State University of New York (SUNY), One Forestry Drive, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
Klaus Dölle *
Department of Paper and Bioprocess Engineering (PBE), College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF), State University of New York (SUNY), One Forestry Drive, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Syngas is a comparatively low energy fuel gas that can be utilized in spark ignition and compression ignition (diesel) internal combustion engines manufactured to run on gasoline or diesel fuels to reduce or eliminate the petroleum fuel requirement for the engine. Syngas can be produced from any carbonaceous material including many forms of biomass. Engine power derating when operating with syngas is typically 15% - 40%, less than the difference in energy content between producer gas and petroleum fuel would indicate largely because of the disparity of stoichiometric air-fuel requirements of producer gas and gasoline or diesel fuel.
Keywords: Syngas, internal combustion engine, diesel, spark ignition, gasifier