2.1.2 Engine power output using producer gas
The power output from an engine operating on producer gas will be determined by the same factors as for engines operating on liquid fuels, namely:
- the heating value of the combustible mixture of fuel and air which enters the engine during each combustion stroke;
- the amount of combustible mixture which enters the engine during each combustion stroke;
- the efficiency with which the engine converts the thermal of the combustible mixture into mechanical energy (shaft power);
- the number of combustion strokes in a given time (number of revolutions per minute: rpm);
Conversion of an engine to producer gas or dual-fuel operation will generally lead to a reduced power output. The reasons for this and possibilities to minimize the power loss will be discussed below.
(a) Heating value of the mixture
The heating value of producer gas depends on the relative amounts of the different combustible components: carbon monoxide, hydrogen and methane