Competition Rich, Lean fuel - effects on Propane Engine?

[trucknut]

Gasoline engines run hotter cyl. temps running leaner.



What are the effects on cyl. temps leaning out a propane engine?

 

[AKAMAC]

The problem you will have running any gas-fuel engine lean is valve trouble. Our gensets run on methane and we use a lean burn system to adhear to CARB guidelines. We have lost 2 valves because of a "too lean" condition. It isn't pretty what damage occurs when it happens. Mike



Think of an oxy-acetlyene torch. What happens to flame temp as the oxygen is increased and acetlyene is maintained? It increases. A bad but close analogy.

 

[paulb]

Gasoline engines run hotter cyl. temps running leaner.



What are the effects on cyl. temps leaning out a propane engine?

Exhaust temps in a gas engine will peak at about a stoichiometric fuel ratio. Leaner or richer then stoich, will produce lower exhaust temps. The problem is that on the lean side there is extra oxygen (free O2), that combined with a lot of heat will produce, in effect a cutting torch. Stoichiometric in a gasoline engine is about 14. 1:1 air fuel ratio. The same effect happens with a propane engine, go leaner then stoich, and temps will drop but you can burn valves, pistons, etc. , because of the oxygen that is left over in the exhaust.



Hope this helps...

Paul

 

[trucknut]

Thanks for your information, that is exactely what I needed to know







Tim