Gasoline-Ethanol Blend Fuel Consumption Study in Bangkok Traffic Condition

Abstract

Nowadays, the domestic transportation in Thailand shares more than 90% of fuel consumption and this major impacts to emission and fuel economy. For this case, gasoline-ethanol blend fuel has been promoted. Generally, the vehicle fuel consumption and emission are regulated by national standard, Thailand regulations is cited to Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) directly. However, there have been many reports that show the figure of fuel consumption under ECE regulations but they are not present the actual gasoline-ethanol fuel consumption, especially in Bangkok metropolis.
From this study, the vehicle’s on-board system (OBD) was collected the data directly from mass of air flow rate into an engine read from mass air flow sensor and and also collected the oxygen volume after burn from tail pipe by oxygen sensor. By applying mass of air flow rate in the combustion equation, the fuel consumption rate was determined. The Phahonyothin road with different time conditions was interested in this study. The different of gasoline-ethanol blend fuel type: E10, E20 and E85 were carried out on SUV car.
The investigation indicated that the fuel consumption of E85 was 18.79% and E20 was 0.56% higher than E10. In addition, the carbon dioxide emission from E85 was 60.61% and E20 was 3.75% less than E10. Moreover, the energy efficiency for E85 was 8.29% and E20 was 3.75% better than E10. Finally fuel economy, E85 was the best which 23.28% and 2.11% for E20 less cost than E10.

Full text

The 8th International Conference on Automotive Engineering (ICAE-8)
April 2-5, 2012, Challenger, Impact, Muang Thong Thani, Bangkok, Thailand
Gasoline-Ethanol Blend Fuel Consumption Study
in Bangkok Traffic Condition
Koranut Tanmee and Krongkaew Laohalidanond
The Sirindhorn Internation Thai-German Graduate School of Engineering

Raksit Thitipatanapong and Sanya Klongnaivai
National Electronic & Computer Technology Center
Wanchai Meesiri
Bangkok High Lab, Co. Ltd.
ABSTRACT
Nowadays, the domestic transportation in
Thailand shares more than 90% of oil
consumption and this major impacts to
emission and fuel economy. For this case,
gasoline-ethanol blend fuel has been promoted.
Generally, the vehicle fuel consumption and
emission are regulated by national standard,
Thailand regulations is cited to Economic
Commission for Europe (ECE) directly.
However, there have been many reports that
show the figure of fuel consumption under ECE
regulations but they are not present the actual
gasoline-ethanol fuel consumption, especially in
Bangkok metropolis.
     -board
diagnosis (OBD) was collected the data directly
from mass of air flow rate into an engine read
from mass air flow sensor and oxygen sensor.
By applying mass of air flow rate in the
combustion equation, the fuel consumption rate
was determined. The Phahonyothin road with
different time conditions was interested in this
study. The different of gasoline-ethanol fuel
type: E10, E20 and E85 were carried out on
SUV car.
The investigation indicated that the fuel
consumption of E85 was 18.79% and E20 was
0.56% higher than E10. In addition, the carbon
dioxide emission from E85 was 60.61% and
E20 was 3.75% less than E10. Moreover, the
energy efficiency for E85 was 8.29% and E20
was 3.75% better than E10. Finally fuel
economy, E85 was the best which 23.28% and
2.11% for E20 less cost than E10.
INTRODUCTION
The domestic transportation is essential to the
economic system that requires energy from
fossil fuel. An alternative choice to reduce
is to consume ethanol fuel to compensate the
consumption of fossil fuel in all sectors of
transportation. In addition, the carbon dioxide
emitted from vehicle using ethanol fuel is
relatively low in comparison to fossil fuel. The
land transportation plays the significant role in
fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emission.
To reduce carbon dioxide emission,
transportation policy will be planned to make
vehicles more efficient and increase in use of
Gasoline-Ethanol blend fuel.
In previous tests, the retrofit passenger car on
engine management system for E10 and E85
were carried out on different driving conditions.
The fuel consumption obtained indirectly from
mass air flow sensor and oxygen sensor which
apply the mass of air flow rate in the
combustion equation from driving tests. The
E85 fuel was 15% higher fuel consumption rate
(in km/l) than E10, while energy efficiency (in
km/MJ) was not different. With respect to
carbon dioxide emission, E85 is 5-10% less
than E10 [1] but this test was reckless the time
condition and standard route.
Traffic congestion and carbon dioxide emission
were examined by using detailed energy and
emission models that were linked to real-world
driving patterns and traffic condition. The
carbon dioxide emission could be reduced up to
almost 20% though three different strategies:
congestion mitigation strategies, speed
management techniques and shock wave
suppression techniques [2].
On the other hand, the vehicle measurements
were performed in real time trips performed in
urban route. The measured parameters were
geography, engine load, engine rpm, and fuel
consumption as well as emission (CO2, NOx

The 8th International Conference on Automotive Engineering (ICAE-8)
April 2-5, 2012, Challenger, Impact, Muang Thong Thani, Bangkok, Thailand
and HC). On road measurement of vehicles
presents the researchers with several
difficulties inherent to experimental work: low
repeatability, external influences and logistical
problems. These issues were tested in order to
reduce effect on the final results [3].
     
on-board data was acquired and analyzed for
fuel consumption rate. The fuel consumption
rate is deviated about 30% between the best
and the worst in both effects from driver
behavior and traffic conditions [4]. Furthermore,
50% different on fuel consumption rate between
free-flow traffic and congested traffic in same
the road section. The vehicle type also have
different fuel consumption, the sub-compact car
with less weight trended to had better fuel
economy while the sedan had lower fuel
economy about 30% [5].
The objective of this study is to test the real
road conditions on Phaholyothin road including
Inner-Urban, Urban, Sub-Urban and Highway
routes with different time conditions (peak,
intermediate and off-peak periods). Moreover,
the different of the gasoline-ethanol fuel types:
E10, E20 and E85 were carried out on SUV
passenger car by focusing on fuel consumption
rate, energy efficiency, carbon dioxide emission
and cost economy then compare the results
among E10, E20 and E85.
ETHANOL
Ethanol or ethyl alcohol has the chemical
formula C2H5OH. It is the same alcohol found in
alcoholic beverages but ethanol also makes an
effective motor fuel. Most ethanol used for fuel
is being blended into gasoline at concentrations
5-10%. More than 90% of the gasoline supplied
in Thailand composes of 10-20% ethanol.
Ethanol must be refined to a high purity of
99.5% before using as fuel in a spark ignition
engine or gasoline engine. Presently, there is a
small but growing market for E85 fuel (85%
ethanol and 15% gasoline) for using in flexible
fuel vehicles (FFVs).
Because of Ethanol contains OH-group which is
more corrosive than conventional gasoline.
Corrosive properties of ethanol are prevented
by using coatings that can resist corrosion on
the parts and fuel tank.
Other properties of ethanol compared to
conventional gasoline are shown in Table 1 and
properties of gasoline-ethanol fuel are shown in
Table 2.
ON-BOARD COMPUTER ACQUISITION
From environmental regulation, the on-board
computer (OBD, on-board diagnosis) have
been compiled from 1996. The standard
includes the communication port (SAE J1939)
within a meter from steering wheel and PID
(parameter identification).
Table 1 Properties of Ethanol Compared to
Gasoline
Fuel
Ethanol
Gasoline
Formula
C2H5OH
C8 H15
Molar C/H ratio
0.333
0.445
Molecular weight
(kg/kmol)
46.07
114.18
Low heating value
(MJ/kg)
26.9
47.1
Stoichiometric A/F
ratio
9
14.6
Research octane
number
108.6
88-100
Motor octane number
89.7
80-90
Density (kg/m3)
785
765
Table 2 Properties of Gasoline-Ethanol Fuel
Type
Air/Fuel
Ratio
HHV
(MJ/kg)
Density
(kg/m3)
E10
14.365
46.324
742
E20
14.086
45.445
747
E85
10.678
34.742
781
Table 3 Examples of Standard Parameter
Identification
Descriptions
Unit
PID
Speed
Km/h
VSS
Mass Air Flow Rate
g/s
MAF
Air Fuel Ratio
-
O2
Engine Speed
RPM
RPM
Engine Coolant
Temperature
Degree
Celsius
ECT
Intake Air Temperature
Degree
Celsius
IAT

The 8th International Conference on Automotive Engineering (ICAE-8)
April 2-5, 2012, Challenger, Impact, Muang Thong Thani, Bangkok, Thailand
FUEL CONSUMPTION ESTIMATION
FROM COMBUSTION BALANCE
The fuel consumption can be analyzed indirectly
from mass air flow rate of the fact that spark
ignition engine (or gasoline engine) is operated
stoichiometrically combustion which the air to
fuel ratio (AFR) remain constant at theoretically
value. As shown in equation (1) estimates
indirectly from fuel volume flow rate
(FFRV) in liter/second. The fuel consumption
rate is shown in equations (2) which normally
ratio between distance over fuel consume. In
this study, E10, E20 and E85 were compared;
   3, E20:
  3 and E85:
3
= 

(l/s) (1)
=





(km/l) (2)
Furthermore, the energy efficiency was
estimated from equation (3) by using different
heating value: E10 is 46.324 kg/MJ, E20 is
45.445 kg/MJ and E85 is 34.742 kg/MJ
= 
  
 × 
 (kg/MJ) (3)
In addition, the CO2 emission is estimated from
carbon-balance equation with completed
combustion between gasoline-ethanol fuel and
air as shown in equation (4).

 

 (4)
Finally, the cost economy is shown in equation
(5) which normally ratio of oil price to fuel
consumption rate.
= 
  (Baht/km) (5)
Where: FCR = fuel consumption rate (km/l),
AFR = air/flow ratio, MAF = mass air flow (g/s)
Energy = energy
efficiency (km/MJ), CO2 = carbon dioxide
3), HHV
= heating value (MJ/kg), X = an amount of
carbon dioxide (xCO2), Y = an amount of
oxygen and nitrogen (x(O2+ 3.76N2))
EQUIPMENTS
The main equipments in this study was OBD-II
data-logger (Figure 1), the commercial unit
 -     
PIDs that mentioned in table 3. Moreover, the
vehicle was installed additional equipments
which were mass-air flow sensor (Figure 2) and
wide-band oxygen sensor (Figure 3).
Figure 1 On-board Communication Data-
Loggers
Figure 2 Mass Air Flow Sensor (MAF)
Figure 3 Oxygen Sensor (AFR Sensor)

The 8th International Conference on Automotive Engineering (ICAE-8)
April 2-5, 2012, Challenger, Impact, Muang Thong Thani, Bangkok, Thailand
VEHICLE
The SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle) passenger car
with the spark-ignition gasoline engine and
current model available in Thailand was
selected which was Ford Escape 3.0-l XLT with
automatic transmission as illustrated in Figure 4
and Table 4.
Figure 4 An Experimental Vehicle
Table 4 The Vehicle Specification
Model
Ford Escape 3.0 XLT,
Model year 2003
Fuel type
petrol (gasoline)
Fuel system
indirect injection
Charge system
naturally aspirated
Valves per cylinder
4
Additional features
sequential multi-port fuel
injection EEC-V DOHC
Emission control
3-way cat,
Lambda-Sensor
Cylinders alignment
V 6
Displacement
2967 cc
Power net
145 kW at 6,000 rpm
Torque
265 Nm at 4,700 rpm
Transmission
4-speed automatic
with overdrive
Vehicle weight
1520 kg
EXPERIMENTAL ROUTES
The Phahonyothin road was selected in this
study; the experiment was divided into 4
sectors to cover practical road conditions as
listed in Table 5 and figure 5. In addition, to
cover different congestion level, the experiment
also conducted with 3 different time periods:
peak hours started at 5.00PM, intermediated
hours started at 9.30PM and off-peak hours
started at 0.00AM. Ultimately, there were totally
36 periods including both infrastructures and
congestion level to analyses.
RESULTS
To make data to be comparable, the congestion
level needs to be account in the term of
average speed for further analysis. The fuel
consumption rate (FCR), comparison among
E10, E20 and E85. The best FCR was E10 fuel
with 17.43 l/100km, the maximum of fuel
consumption rate occurred at Inner-Urban and
Urban sectors during peak hours for all fuels.
Furthermore, the minimum of fuel consumption
rate occurred at Highway sector during off-peak
hours for all fuels. The worse FCR was E20 fuel
with 20.2 l/100km which more congestion level
than E10 and E85 conditions.
The FCR of E10 ranged from 13.06 to 34.27
l/100km, the CO2 emission ranged from 300 to
801 g/km while average speed indicated the
congestion level with lower average speed was
more congested level. The energy efficiency
ranged from 443 to 1185 MJ/100km and cost
economy ranged from 4.43 to 11.63 baht/km
that was shown in figure 6.
For The FCR of E20 ranged from 12.72 to
58.56 l/100km while the CO2 emission ranged
from 292 to 1355 g/km. To be noticed that the
worse result was the maximum value due to
severe congestion level. In addition, the energy
efficiency ranged from 433 to 2007 MJ/100km
and cost economy ranged from 4.2 to 19.35
baht/km that was shown in figure 6. The worst
economy of all cases was the severe
congestion level or low average speed trended
to lower fuel economy because it had much
stop-go behavior on Sub-Urban route.
For The FCR of E85 ranged from 13.02 to
48.11 l/100km while the CO2 emission ranged
from 234 to 881 g/km with various traffic
congestion conditions. Furthermore, the energy
efficiency ranged from 353 to 1330 MJ/100km
and cost economy ranged from 2.86 to 10.55
baht/km as illustrated in Figure 6.

The 8th International Conference on Automotive Engineering (ICAE-8)
April 2-5, 2012, Challenger, Impact, Muang Thong Thani, Bangkok, Thailand
(1) Inner-Urban Sector
(2) Urban Sector
(3) Sub-Urban Sector
(4) Highway Sector
Figure 5 Experimental Routes
Table 5 Route Descriptions
Sector
From (Point A)
To (Point B)
Distance
(km)
Inner-Urban
Chulalongkorn University
Victory Monument
4.2
Urban
Victory Monument
Fifth Constitution Monument (Laksi)
11.3
Sub-Urban
Fifth Constitution Monument (Laksi)
National Memorial
10.0
Highway
National Memorial
Thammasat University (Rangsit)
12.9

The 8th International Conference on Automotive Engineering (ICAE-8)
April 2-5, 2012, Challenger, Impact, Muang Thong Thani, Bangkok, Thailand
According to the results with graphical
estimation from figure 6(a), the fuel
consumption of E85 was 18.79% and E20 was
0.56% higher than E10. In addition, the carbon
dioxide emission in figure 6(b) from E85 was
60.61% and E20 was 3.75% less than E10.
Moreover, the energy efficiency in figure 6(c) for
E85 was 8.29% and E20 was 3.75% better than
E10. Finally from figure 6(d) fuel economy, E85
was the best which 23.28% and 2.11% for E20
less cost than E10.
CONCLUSION REMARK
In this study, the investigations of the fuel
consumption rate, carbon dioxide emission,
energy efficiency and cost economy on major
road in Bangkok had carried out with different
types of gasoline-ethanol fuel: E10, E20 and
E85. The experiment included different time
congestion and route conditions. The results
revealed that the fuel consumption rate, carbon
dioxide emission, energy efficiency and cost
economy were influenced by different time
congestion and route conditions which
concluded as follow:
 The fuel consumption rate of E10 is less
than E20 and E85.
 Carbon dioxide emission of E10 is higher
than E20 and E85.
 Energy efficiency of E10 is higher than E20
and E85.
 Finally, the cost economy of E10 is higher
than E20 and E85.
Figure 6 (a) Fuel Consumption Rate
Figure 6 (b) Carbon Dioxide Emission

The 8th International Conference on Automotive Engineering (ICAE-8)
April 2-5, 2012, Challenger, Impact, Muang Thong Thani, Bangkok, Thailand
Table 6 Fuel Cost on The tested days
Date
Bath/Liter
E10
E20
E85
29/08/2011
-
-
21.92
31/08/2011
-
30.84
-
02/09/2011
32.34
-
-
REFERENCES
1. P. Kongsukanant, K. Laohalidanond and R.
Thitipatanapong, The Fuel Consumption on
E85 with Conventional EFI Vehicle, The 7th
International Conference on Automotive
Engineering (ICAE-7) March 28  April 1,
2011, Challenger, Impact, Muang Thong
Thani, Bangkok, Thailand.
2. M. Barth and K. Boriboonsomsin, Real-
World Carbon Dioxide Impacts of Traffic
Congestion, Center for Environment
Research and technology, College of
Engineering, University of California at
Riverside, 1084 Columbia Avenue,Riverside,
CA92507.
3. Goncalves, G.A., Farias, T.L., "On-road
measurements of emissions and fuel
consumption of gasoline fueled light duty
vehicles" Clean Air 2005, June 27-30, 2005,
Lisboa, Portugal
4. Thitipatanapong, R., Luangnarutai, T., "A
driving condition acquisition and analysis:
vehicle fuel consumption", (in Thai) the
conference proceeding of 24th mechanical
engineering network of Thailand, ETM30,
October 20-22, 2010, Ubonratchatani,
Thailand.
Figure 6 (c) Energy Efficiency
Figure 6 (d) Cost Economy

The 8th International Conference on Automotive Engineering (ICAE-8)
April 2-5, 2012, Challenger, Impact, Muang Thong Thani, Bangkok, Thailand
5. Raksit Thitipatanapong, et. al., Actual Fuel
Consumption and Carbon Dioxide Emission
of Passenger Vehicles in BangkokThe 7th
International Conference on Automotive
Engineering (ICAE-7), Paper G15, March 28
 April 1, 2011, Challenger, Impact, Muang
Thong Thani, Bangkok, Thailand.
CONTACT
Mr. Koranut Tanmee, B.Eng., he graduated
from Mechanical Engineering, Thammasat
University in 2009. He has studied Automotive
Engineer in Master Degree at The Sirindhorn
Internation Thai-German Graduate School of
Engineering(TGGS) (  
of Technology North Bangkok).
Dr.-lng. Krongkaew Laohalidanond, Ph.D. is
Georesources and Materials Engineering From
RWTH Aachen University. Lecturer and
Researcher in Faculty of Engineering at King
    
Bangkok. She is Specialization of Fuel
Engineering.
Mr. Raksit Thitipatanapong, M.Sc is TSAE
Board member and Engineer at Information
Communication & Computing Research Unit,
National Electronic & Computer Technology
Center. Currently, he is interested in
development on driver behavior measurement,
Eco-driving and GPS application in safety land
transport. (raksit.thi@nectec.or.th)
Mr. Sanya Klongnaivai, M.Eng is Engineer,
Consultants and ISO 17025 Auditor at
Information Communication & Computing
Research Unit, National Electronic & Computer
Technology Center. He is interest in develop
the automotive computing unit, Embedded
System and design, experience in computer
testing and ISO standard.
Mr. Wanchai Meesiri, He is a technical
director/CO-founder of Bangkok High Lab
Company. He is interest in research and
development the alternative fuel retrofit device
for conventional vehicle, electric vehicle
development for Thailand and instrumentation.
APPENDIX
CO2 emissions from carbon-balance equation
with complete combustion
E10
0.9[C8H15] + 13.95(O2+ 3.76N2)
13.5H2O +7.2CO2+ xN2

  


E20
0.8[C8H15] + 12.4(O2+ 3.76N2)
12H2O +6.4CO2+ xN2

  


E85
0.15[C8H15] + 4.65(O2+ 3.76N2)
2.25H2O +1.2CO2+ xN2

  

