Abstract
Recently, several LPG engines for heavy-duty vehicles have been developed, which can replace some diesel engines that are one of a main source for air pollution in urban area. As a preliminary study on the liquid phase LPG injection (hereafter LPLI) system applicable to a heavy duty LPG engine, the engine output and combustion performance were investigated with various combustion chambers and fuel compositions using a single cylinder engine equipped. Experimental results revealed that ellipse, double ellipse and nebula type combustion chamber made a more advantage in breaking swirl flow into small turbulence scale than bathtub type. Especially, performance of nebula type showed most highest efficiency and engine output under lean mixture conditions. An investigation fur various LPG fuel compositions was also carried out, and revealed that the case with 40% propane and 60% butane shows the lowest efficiency at stoichiometry, however, as the mixture became leaner its efficiency increased and became even higher for 100% propane case.