Published on Sep 03, 2023
The ever hike in the price of fuel in the world has created a big zeal to look for an alternative to petrol/gasoline that are used to drive vehicles throughout the world. The emissions after the combustion has already created problems like Greenhouse effect and global warming. Technologies have tried their best to look for solutions to this major concern that is increasing exponentially, nowadays.
Taking this as a basis of research we decided to develop such a system that will bring a considerable control in the emissions of the engine’s exhaust and with the assistance of some electronic sensors and transducers a viable injection system will be develop so as to achieve the maximum output from the prototype engine and to achieve the longest mileage for many cars in future.
Electronic mileage booster with magnetic fuel vaporizer combustion is basically an alternative or can be a replacement to conventional carburetor equipped engines. The model is responsible for setting up the dynamic air fuel ratio in the intake manifold which provide the required power to the vehicle rather than providing the constant ratio. The new concept of magnetic fuel vaporizer also helps to dissolve the carbon build-up in carburetor, jets, fuel injector and combustion chamber, thereby keeping the engines c lear condition.
One of the main issues our society is facing is the constant increase in the temperature of the earth’s atmosphere, also known as global warming. A rise in the temperature in the atmosphere can cause ice to melt around the Earth’s poles, a rise in sea level, and an increase in rainfall and snowfall worldwide. This phenomenon is mainly caused by greenhouse gases produced by the burning of fossil fuels. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, 28% of greenhouse gas emissions come from burning fossil fuels in transportation.
Oil refined as gasoline to fuel cars, trucks, and other highway vehicles is the main fossil fuel used in transportation. The Shell Eco-marathon competition is designed for students to find innovative solutions in transportation to help reduce the release of greenhouse gas emissions in vehicles. This includes finding alternative energy sources as well as optimizing the energy sources we have today. Our goal is to design and build well optimized fuel injection system with a car prototype that maximizes fuel efficiency of an internal combustion engine to compete in the Shell Eco-marathon Asia. This system can be installed on all market vehicles to reduce emissions and increase mileage by few factors.
There is no doubt that this is the most flourishing technology in automotive sector. Almost the conventional vehicles have been replaced by hybrid and many of this has smart engine driving system. As per the rising need it is sure that in future the conventional carbureted vehicles shall be replacement by this smart system. India still lag in this section. Hence there is huge scope to this.
The engine selection for the Shell Eco-Marathon car is one of the most important aspects for the vehicle’s success. Since the goal is to improve fuel efficiency, finding a motor that will be able to power the vehicle while using the least amount of power is important. Since the engine will be cycled on and off during the competition, overall motor efficiency was deem more important than total power output. Most current small engine choices suffer from the same design flaw: they are carbureted. Carburetors deliver fuel less efficiently than fuel injection, hurting fuel economy.
Finding a motor that was fuel injected or that could be easily modified to become fuel injected is a priority. Motor compression ratios are another way to improve engine efficiency. It is possible to improve engine compression by changing parts but using a motor that has a higher compression ratio to start with is a better option. As a small group, our budget is limited, so finding the best cost/performance ratio for the motor is important. Three main engine options were considered: a Honda GY6-QMB 50cc, a Honda GX25 25cc, and a Honda GX35 35cc. Figure shows the GX35 engine that was selected.
The engines were compared in terms of their power output, compression ratio, aftermarket support, starter type, clutch type, initial fuel consumption, and cost. Table shows the decision matrix used to compare the engines. Engines were scored with possible values of 1, 5, and 10 with 10 being the best possible score and 5 being the worst. The score is then weighted by the importance, giving the final total score.
In the category of power output, least is the best. The car will be light, so it will not take a lot of power to achieve the desired speed. The GY6-QMB produces 2.1 kW at 6500 rpm and 3.1 N-m at 5500 rpm, the GX25 produces 0.72 kW at 7000 rpm and 1 N-m at 5000 rpm, and the GX35 produces 1 kW at 7000 rpm and 1.6 N-m at 5000 rpm [1]. The GX25 would produce enough power to move the car, while not producing any more than we need. Consequently, the GX25 scored the highest in this category followed by the GX35 and last was the GY6-QMB.
Compression ratio of an engine is an important measure of thermodynamic efficiency: the higher the ratio, the more efficient the motor. Since the motor will be cycled, overall efficiency is just as important as initial fuel consumption. The GY6-QMB starts with a compression ratio of 10.5:1 while the GX25 and GX35 both have Compression ratios of 8.0:1 [1]. The GY6-QMB scored the highest possible points in this category while the GX25 and GX35 scored the lowest.
Using an electric starter would make it possible for the driver to cycle the motor on and off while driving. Since the plan to improve vehicle efficiency is to cycle the motor, having an electric starter is much better than having a magneto starter. The GX35 is the only motor of the 3 considered to have an electric starter, giving it the maximum number of points for the category.
The team came up with three different concepts for the fuel system. Each one of these concepts is based upon the same idea that the team is limited to gasoline as a fuel source. The team is also limited to many other constraints related to the fue l system. The team must use a Shell Eco-Marathon approved fuel tank of 30mL, 100mL, or 250mL. The team is also limited to certain clear no expansive fuel lines. With all of these constraints in place, there is only a few different concepts related to the fuel system the team considered. These concepts are the use of carburetor, use of fuel injection, and the use of a forced induction fuel injected system. The first concept is the method of using a carburetor to deliver the fuel in the engine.
This is how mo st small engines are designed. It is a simple delivery system that does not require the need for computer processor or modules. It utilizes the mechanical appendances to deliver fuel. A big problem with carburetors is that they cannot precisely tune a vehicle to the absolute best fuel efficiency. Another disadvantage with carburetors is that they commonly are in need of adjustment. This means decreased reliability and increased maintenance. The second concept is the method of fuel injection. Fuel injection sprays fuel directly into the throttle body or into the cylinder depending on the system. This increases fuel efficiency because the spray is localized where combustion occurs. The system is very reliable once the team integrates it into the engine. Fuel injection also allows for very accurate tuning with the assistance of software and electronics. It does take some time to set up the system and get the system producing the best fuel efficiency results.
The team needed to decide which fuel system was best for the Eco-Marathon competition application. The team determined criteria that would be divided into six sections for the fuel system: fuel efficiency, ease of implementation, precise tuning, reliability, maintenance, and cost. The team defined each of these criterions and gave them a respective weighted percentage based upon importance. The team defines fuel efficiency as a percentage of fuel that is converted into propulsion energy. This is measured in a percentage. This is the most important to the team because the more fuel efficient the fuel system is the less amount of fuel used to Propel the vehicle and overall a lower vehicle fuel efficiency.
The team gave fuel efficiency a weighted percentage of 40%. The team defines ease of implementation as the amount of time it would take to install the fuel system. This is important to the team because the simpler the system is to integrate the more time the team has to test and tune. A simpler system is also easier to find potential problems and fix them. The team assigned ease of implementation with a weighted percentage of 10%. The team defines precise tuning as how accurate the fuel system can be tuned to. This is very important to the team because the more precise the fuel system tuning is, the better the fuel efficiency that can be obtained. The team assigned precise tuning with a weighted percentage of 20%.
The team defines reliability as the time it takes before the system has a problem and needs maintenance. This is important because the team wants a fuel system that will hold true to the tuned characterizes. The team does not want to have to worry about if the fuel system is going to fail during test runs or competition runs. For this reason the team gave reliability a weighted percentage of 15%. The team defines maintenance as the amount of time spent maintain fluids and retuning to keep best fuel efficiency. This quantity will be measured in minutes. This is important to the team because the team does not want to spend a lot of time in between runs checking and retuning the vehicle at the competition. The team assigned maintenance with a weighted percentage of 10%
The team defines fuel system cost to be the amount to purchase the fuel system, measured in dollars. This is not as important to the team because the whole objective of this competition is to be as fuel efficient as possible. This means that a good amount of the budget will go into a fuel system. The team assigned fuel system cost to have a weighted percentage of 5%.
SE-EFI is an Electronic Fuel Injection conversion kit for small engines. This install procedure is a customized version for the Honda GX35. It is only a hardware installation guide. It does not cover any tuning or ECU Programming. The locations of the components are up to you, the ones shown here are preferred locations by some early adopters. This EFI kit has below features:
Electronic fuel injection (EFI)
Quick engine start even at cold temperatures
More power and torque than the carbureted version
High fuel efficiency and low carbon emissions
fuel-cut-off
OBD - on board diagnosis
Performance tuning for advanced users.
EFIJ- series fuel injectors are designed to inject the fuel into the intake manifold to achieve a homogeneous distribution of fuel in air flow as efficiently as possible. The injectors are used on EFI system usually Injector consist the filter, electrical fittings, solenoid coil, the armature, needle valve, O-ring, seals and other components.
The core part of Ecotrons ECU is Free Scale’s 16 bit or 32 bit microprocessor that is specifically designed for powertrain controls. ECU also includes some Application Specific Integrated Circuits, or ASIC chips, from world famous automotive semiconductor manufacturers, like Infineon, and International Rectifier etc. Most importantly, Ecotrons’ ECU contains the state-of-art engine control software which combines both efficiency and flexibility of the modern engine control technology. Ecotrons has a few small engine ECUs; all small sizes and light weight. One is like the below picture, potted with the epoxy for weather proof. ECU judges the working state of the engine through the sensor measuring data acquisition and calculation. ECU performs Optimization and control tasks according to the existing and stored calibration data.
In order to ensure a high reliability, ECU installation should abide by the following principles:
Mounting position of ECU should have adequate ventilation.
Avoid the heat transmission to the ECU.
Away from the ignition system, the EMI is serious
It should be installed firmly.
Avoid the dirty, wet, and splash water.
Don’t let the ECU to prop up the wiring harness.
Wiring harness should avoid wear and heat.
1. TPS sensor is not water submersible proof.
2. Avoid the sensor in a dusty or muddy environment. The dust or debris that might get into sensing element will cause deficiency of the sensor.
3. Every time a new sensor is installed or a new ECU is installed in Ecotrons EFI system, the TPS sensor idle position and WOT position will be self-adapted. To trigger this learning process is to create a “power fail” of ECU, meaning, with Key On, disconnect the ECU and then key off, then reconnect the ECU.
4. Sensor mounting torque should not exceed 49.03mN * m (MAX), to prevent the sensor damaging
This biggest advantage that we got from ecotrons efi system is their self-designed user friendly optimization software called as ProCal. This software helps in programming ECU in different steps initial in normal stage then in advance stage. If one is not much aware about the EFI system may run the ECU in normal stage and after mastering he can switch to advance stage. This software displays all the dynamic changing values of sensor and also keeps a record of it. Depending on the knowledge of engine and its behavior one can manipulate these parameters to obtain better results. With the help of dynamometer test and the report generated, we have tried out level best to program the ECU to obtain the best output from it.
This vaporizer is capable of increasing the mileage of the vehicle by 30%, as vapors are more combustible than liquid. The use of this vaporizer in our vehicle succumbed 172kmp
Our new Smart Injection System with magnetic vaporizer will be installed on our race vehicle which will compete in Shell Eco Marathon 2016, Philippines. After making this a happening project we came to know that one can achieve increased mileage of at least 25% which will thereby bring a considerable reduction on use of global fuel and this has become a prime reason for its increased use at global level. Almost 30% of the commercial vehicle has employed such smart systems of different brands in order to obtain a better fuel economy and controlled emission.
[1] R S Khurmi, J K Gupta, Theory of Machines, Eurasia Publishing House Pvt. Ltd., Distributors S. Chand and Company Ltd. for Toothed Wheels.
[2] V B Bhandari, Design of Machine Elements, Third Edition, McGraw Hill Education (India) Pvt. Ltd. for Rolling Contact Bearings
[3] Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore, Printed and published by Kalaikathir Achchagam, Revised edition 1978 for Rolling Contact Bearing
[4] Automobile system- Dr. Kripal singh
[5] IC engines- Prof. Rajput
