m Venkatesan - Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College of Engineering Nagercoil, (A Constituent College of Anna University Chennai), TamilNadu, India
n Shenbaga Vinayaga Moorthi - Department of Mechanical Engineering, University V.O.C College of Engineering Thoothukudi, (A Constituent College of Anna UniversityChennai), Tamil Nadu, India
r Karthikeyan - Department of Mechanical Engineering, Shri Andal Alagar College of Engineering, Mamandur, Tamil Nadu, India
a Manivannan - Department of Mechanical Engineering, Regional Centre, Anna University, Tirunelveli RegionTirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, India.

The present work investigates the performance and emission characteristics of hydrous methanol fuelled Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI) engine. In the present work, a regular diesel engine has been modified to work as HCCI engine. Hydrous methanol is used with 15% watercontent in this HCCI engine and its performance and emission behavior is documented. A spark plug is used for assisting auto-ignition. The spark timings are changed in steps of 3 degrees and the suitabletiming that offers better phasing is called optimum spark timing. From the investigation, it is found thatthe hydrous methanol suits perfectly with HCCI engine and the water content present in the hydrous methanol helps to phase the combustion perfectly and to change the rate of combustion. The investigation also proves that the hydrous methanol operation reduces NO and smoke to extremely lowlevel which is not possible by the direct injection CI engine. The water content present in the hydrous methanol helpes to control the timing of auto ignition and to run HCCI engine smoothly. Therefore, it is beneficial to use hydrous methanol in internal combustion engines

Hydrous Methanol , HCCI , Spark Assisted Performance , Emission and Combustion ,