A study of the influence of the intercooled turbocharger and cooled exhaust gas recirculation on the performance parameters of an ethanol-fueled engine

The hydrous ethanol combined with the turbocharged engine with Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) was investigated with a phenomenological simulation model. This paper analyzes the influence of the low pressure, high pressure cooled EGR, the intercooler, and the amount of recirculated gases on the performance parameters in a spark-ignited ethanol-fueled engine. Using a phenomenological model developed in Matlab®, the behavior of the pressure and temperature curves is analyzed considering the variation of the crank angle, the formation of NOx, and the tendency for knocking. The fuel analyzed is hydrous ethanol (E95h - 5% water by volume), which is widely used in Brazil. The proposed technique showed an increased power using the intercooler (IC) while avoiding knocking. This study showed that the use of a cooled EGR and turbocharged SI results in increased power, while also reducing NOx formation, and preventing or reducing engine knocking. In some engines, the low pressure cooled EGR is better than high pressure, but this can be different for another engine. The model helps to find the best option for each engine modeled.