Combustion Chamber Deposits and PAH Formation in SI Engines Fueled by Producer Gas from Biomass Gasification

Investigations were made concerning the formation of combustion chamber deposits (CCD) in SI gas engines fueled by producer gas. The main objective was to determine and characterise CCD and PAH formation caused by the presence of the light tar compounds phenol and guaiacol in producer gas from an updraft gasifier.

The work was based on previous work regarding the assumption that phenol is a soot precursor and therefore could lead to CCD formation. Laboratory experiments were conducted, where pyrolysis products of the single tar components were collected on small aluminium plates. The experiments showed that guaiacol formed significant amount of deposits.

The structure observed was a lacquer type of deposit. It was determined that there was no distinct deposit formation due to phenol. Experiments were conducted with a 0.48 litre one-cylinder high compression ratio SI engine fueled by synthetic producer gas. Known quantities of tar compounds were added to the fuel gas and the CCD were examined.

The experiments showed significant formation of deposits when guaiacol was added to the fuel, whereas for phenol only minor CCD formation was observed. Particulate matter in the exhaust gas was sampled on filters and a sorbent was used for collection of vapour phase aromatic compounds. The filters and sorbent were analysed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) formed during combustion.

The measurements showed that there was no significant increase in particulate PAH emissions due to the tar compounds in the fuel gas.