Improving the Performance of Two-Stroke Motorcycle with Tuned Adjustable Exhaust Pipe
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Research Journal of Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology 1(2): 59-65, 2009 ISSN: 2040-7467 © Maxwell Scientific Organization, 2009 Submit Date: June 25, 2009 Accepted Date: July 11, 2009 Published date: August 31, 2009 Improving the Performance of Two-stroke Motorcycle with Tuned Adjustable Exhaust Pipe O. Obodeh, and A.D. Ogbor Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma Edo State, Nigeria Abstract: Engine performance is strongly dependent on gas dynamic phenomena in intake and exhaust systems. Careful design of the manifolds enables the engineer to manipulate the characteristics. The basic exhaust tuning mechanisms was described with respect to a two-stroke single-cylinder engine. Tuned adjustable exhaust pipe for use on two-stroke motorcycle was designed and tested. The dynamometer used incorporated a flywheel of appropriate moment of inertia to simulate the mass of the motorcycle and rider. The test procedure involved measurement of the flywheel speed during an acceleration phase resulting from opening the throttle. Calculation of the instantaneous flywheel acceleration gave a measure of the torque and power characteristics. The airflow based values of delivery ratio; trapping efficiency and charging efficiency were not measured directly but were culled from the fuel flow values and the Spindt computation of the exhaust gas analysis. Experimental test results were presented for power output, specific fuel consumption and engine-out emissions. The tuned exhaust system was found to improve fuel economy of the engine by 12%. The major engine-out emissions, HC and CO were reduced by a minimum of 27.8% and 10.7% respectively. An improved power output of 15.8% increase was achieved. As a bonus, it was also found that the exhaust noise was reduced. Key words: Tuned exhaust pipe, motorcycle, performance characteristics INTRODUCTION reported to emit as much as 5 times more HC and 1.5 times more CO emissions per kilometer driven than do Vehicles are one of the dominant sources of urban four-stroke motorcycles and even cars (Vorsic and pollution in developing world that threatens both people’s Weilenmann, 2006). However, in Nigeria, due to health and economic activities (Vorsic and Weilenmann, excessive use of poor quality lubricant oil, adulterated 2006; Houston and Ahern, 2007). While this is common gasoline and poor engine maintenance, they emit more to growing urban areas throughout the world, it is (Obodeh et al., 2008). particularly severe in Nigeria where majority of vehicles In recent years, much research work has been are two-stroke motorcycles (Faluyi et al., 2006). The conducted to reduce these exhaust emissions so that the demand for owning a motorcycle is on a soaring path engine will conform to all prevailing and future (Faluyi et al., 2006). This is of course due to a number of environmental legislations (Sawada et al., 1998; Hanawa, social and economic reasons but convenience of avoiding 2004; Kashani, 2004; Korman, 2006; Winkler, 2006). To heavy traffic congestions and easy accessibility to remote comply with these emission regulations, stratified areas, appear most favorable in Nigeria. It is clearly scavenging (Bergman et al., 2003; Bergman and observed that the population of all types of motorcycles is Berneklev, 2006) has become one of the most popular growing fast to the extent that besides goods and parcels, design approaches on newly developed small two-stroke passengers are also moved by such mode of transportation engines. Exhaust after-treatment by catalyst (Merkisz and in Nigerian cities and towns (Faluyi et al., 2006). Fu , 2003; Arnby et al., 2005) is another technique that Two-stroke motorcycles are more commonly used is used to reduce exhaust emissions. In some cases four- than four-stroke because they are small and cheap. stroke engines (Ahern, 2003) have been substitutes for the Because they are less expensive than other vehicles, they two-stroke engine. In future, it is likely that the play an important role in the country’s transport sector. automobile industry will improve catalytic converters for They are very visible in most cities and major towns of use on all motorcycles (Maus and Brück, 2005). the country providing an alternative mode of transport for Currently, BMW and Yamaha both produce a motorcycle short distances (Faluyi et al., 2006). The main air that uses a computer controlled catalytic converter pollutants in the exhaust effluent from motorcycles are (Winkler, 2006). It is still in the early stages of carbon monoxide (CO), unburned hydrocarbon (HC), development and improvements to it will likely follow. oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and white smoke emitted from However, this three-way catalyst system adds two-stroke motorcycles. Two-stroke motorcycles are approximately one thousand dollar ($1000) to the cost of Corresponding Author: O. Obodeh, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma Edo State, Nigeria 59 Res. J. Appl. Sci. Eng. Technol., 1(2): 59-65, 2009 a motorcycle, and the package does not perform well just prior to closing of exhaust port by upward travel of under vibration (Winkler, 2006). piston in the compression stroke. The critical design can Another technique to reduce exhaust emissions on be made when exhaust-open period and the pressure pulse two-stroke engines that was proposed by Blair (1996) is speed inside the exhaust system are known. The following to use exhaust tuning. Traditionally, exhaust system on an equations were used: engine was purely to remove exhaust gases from the 1/2 cylinder and expel them to the environment and also V3 = [401.8(Tex + 273] m/s (1) muffle the sound. This traditional type of exhaust system has worked well throughout the years but could be where improved. The primary method of doing this is to V3 = Local speed of sound in the pipe (m/s) optimize the way the exhaust gases are able to escape. Tex = Exhaust temperature (ºC) The main goal of tuned exhaust is to efficiently evacuate the exhaust gases from the cylinder. The bottomline is that with a tuned exhaust system, suctioning out and (2) emptying out of the cylinder are effectively carried out. where The engine gets a better complete combustion of fuel. The L = uned length effect is that it will take less throttle to get the same t 2 = Exhaust port duration in crank degrees revolution per minute. This means less fuel flow (Bassett N = Desired rotational speed et al., 2001). The objectives of this work are: firstly to design an Br2 L = 2C (3) adjustable exhaust pipe for use on two-stroke cycle engine t which will enable a relatively unskilled operator to tune where the engine quickly and reliably for optimum performance. r = Pipe radius Secondly, to investigate the effects of tuned exhaust C = Engine capacity per cylinder system on the performance of a crankcase compression two-stroke cycle engine. This was performed by obtaining 2 and N were obtained from the engine specifications experimental data for both the tuned exhaust system and (Table 1). Exhaust temperatures ranging from 500-600ºC the Original Equipment Manufacture (OEM) exhaust were used as recommended by Blair (1996). The designs system and make comparison of the potential benefits of were based at 500 to 600ºC in steps of 20ºC. The exhaust the tuned exhaust system relative to the OEM system. system is shown in Fig. 2 and the parameters of the OEM and tuned exhaust systems are listed in Table 1. Tuned Exhaust Pipe Design: The periodic charging and discharging of the cylinder, together with pressure OEM: Original Equipment Manufacture: As reported increase generated during combustion process, gives rise by Blair (1996), it is preferable to construct the divergent to highly unsteady flow in the manifolds (Winterbone and cone to be slightly longer than the convergent cone, an Pearson, 1999, 2000; Koehlen and Holder, 2002; Vitek approximate ratio of four to three being suitable. From and Polasek, 2002). In two-stroke engine, when the empirical results, the tailpipe diameter was made slightly exhaust valve opens, the “blow-down” pressure in the less than the diameter of inlet pipe in ratio of 1 to 1.25. cylinder generates a pressure wave in the exhaust runner (primary) pipe as the piston is still traveling towards MATERIALS AND METHODS bottom-dead-centre (BDC). This pressure-wave propagates towards the end of the pipe and is reflected as The engine testing was carried out with a one- a rarefaction-wave (reflected expansion wave) which cylinder two-stroke cycle motorcycle. The engine travels back towards the exhaust. Effective exhaust tuning specifications are as shown in Table 2. The engine and oil involves the timing of this low-pressure-wave to arrive tank of the motorcycle were cleaned to remove old fuel, downstream of the exhaust valves during the valve auto-lube oil and any deposit and refilled with unleaded overlap period, thereby increasing the scavenging gasoline and low smoke lube oil (SAE 10W-30 engine efficiency of the engine via reducing the concentration of oil). The lube oil specifications are shown in Table 3. The trapped residual gas in the engine cylinder (Adair et al., speed and load of the engine were controlled 2006; Gustafsson, 2006). independently by dynamometer and fuel control system. The critical part of the entire structure design is the The dynamometer incorporates a flywheel which was determination of what distance must exist between directly coupled to the engine by a chain. The exhaust port baffle portion such that it will return a dynamometer simulates the loading on the engine during reflected exhaust gas pressure pulse at just the right acceleration period. moment to prevent loss of fresh air-fuel mixture from Manifold temperature and pressures were measured cylinder through exhaust port (Fig. 1). using thermocouples and strain-based pressure A proper design length of exhaust system allows very transducers, respectively.