Development of a Two-Stroke Cycle Engine for Use in the Agricultural Aviation Sector

Abstract

Reciprocating internal combustion engines have wide application in agricultural, recreational and experimental aircraft, resulting from their low cost and less complex maintenance compared to other engines. Thus, this work analyzed the performance of a conventional four-stroke engine operating in the two-stroke cycle by means of direct fuel injection and mechanical air supercharging. The use of a supercharger was essential in this design to provide adequate gas exchange inside the cylinder during the long valve overlap required, while direct fuel injection made it possible to reduce the short circuit of air-fuel mixture to the exhaust. Due to the double ignition frequency compared to a four-stroke engine, it was possible to obtain a large power density (40 kW/L) at a speed of 2400 rpm, also a specific fuel consumption of 270 g/kWh with gasoline and 400 g/kWh with ethanol. The use of ethanol in replacement of gasoline made it possible to operate at full load (160 Nm/L) at 800 rpm without the occurrence of knocking combustion.