Impact of changing compression ratio on engine characteristics of an SI engine fueled with equi-volume blend of methanol and gasoline

In the present investigation, experiments were conducted in wide open throttle condition (WOT) for different speed ranging from 1200 rpm to 1800 rpm at an interval of 200 on a single-cylinder four-stroke variable compression ratio (VCR) SI engine. The engine fueled with equi-volume blend of methanol/gasoline fuel, while 14° BTDC ignition timing is maintained for all three different compression ratios (8, 9 & 10). Increasing the compression ratio from CR8 to CR10 for the methanol/gasoline blend has improved combustion efficiency by increasing the peak pressure and net heat release value by 27.5% and 30% respectively at a speed of 1600 rpm. The performance results show a good agreement of improvisation of 25% increase in BTE, and BSFC reduction by 19% at compression ratio 10:1. At higher compression ratio 10:1, there was a significant decrease observed in CO and HC by 30–40%, and the same trend is observed at all speeds; however, NOx emission increased with the increasing CR. •High octane number and oxygen content are two key factors associated with methanol.•Methanol is a good fuel when operated at higher compression.•CR change has a significant effect on performance characteristics of M50 fuel.•M50 fuel with CR10 exhibits excellent combustion efficiency.•Burning low carbon-hydrogen ratio M50 fuel reduce CO and HC emission.