Effect of Heating Fuel to Fuel Consumptions in Vapor

Carburetor (Bubbling Method)

Setiyawan, Adi Eka Putra1. Bugis, Husin2. Basori3

1
Department of Mechanical Engineering Education, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education
Sebelas Maret University, Surakarta, Indonesia.
Rd. Ahmad Yani 200, Pabelan, Surakarta, 57162
a)
adieka.putra02@student.uns.ac.id
b)
basori@staff.uns.ac.id

Abstract. The increase in the use of motorized vehicles in Indonesia has led to an increase in the need for fuel oil
consumption and has caused a decrease in the supply of fuel oil. The technology used in vehicles is less effective in
reducing fuel consumption. Technology is a need that can reduce fuel consumption in vehicles. This study aims to
determine the effect of heating the fuel on the Vapor Carburetor by the Bubbling method on decreasing the consumption
of motorized fuel. The Vapor carburetor is a fuel system by producing fuel vapor by making air bubbles pass through the
fuel (Bubbling). This study uses an experimental method with a research object of a 100cc single cylinder gasoline
engine. The fuel used by RON 90 with a fuel channel wrapped around the Exhaust Manifold in 2 turns through
calculating fuel consumption per milliliter/minute. Data analysis uses descriptive quantitative with an average of 42.22%
in reducing fuel consumption. The test results show that the Vapor Carburetor with fuel heating is more effective in
saving fuel consumption.

INTRODUCTION
Two-wheeled vehicles commonly referred Motorcycles cannot be denied again has become a very common
means of transport used throughout the world, especially in Indonesia, it can happen because of practicality in size
as well as the purchase price and the maintenance fee that is still affordable. The population of motorcycles in
Indonesia can be considered more than a system of transportation, it can be seen from the Badan Pusat Statistik
(BPS: 2019) in 2017 alone there were 113 million units of motorcycles beyond other transport systems and has
increased every year [1].
The increase in the number of vehicles in Indonesia would be directly proportional to the amount of petroleum
fuel consumption. This is evidence2 by the results of the record of the Badan Pengatur Hilir Minyak dan Gas (BPH
Migas: 2018) in 2016 the consumption of general oil fuels amounted to 48 Kiloliters and in 2017 there was an
increase of 7 Kiloliters to 55 Kiloliters and predicted to increase along with the increase in the number of vehicles
[2].
With these conditions, the development of technology to save fuel consumption is very necessary. This device
converts liquid fuel into fuel vapor and mixes fuel vapor with air and then puts it into the combustion chamber to
start the engine [3]. Unlike the carburetor in general which atomizes liquid fuels to mix with air, the vapor
carburetor evaporates the fuel first and the steam produced will be mixed with air before entering the combustion
chamber [4]. With a mixture of fuel and air in the form of gas, a homogeneous mixture can easily be achieved and
the combustion that occurs is perfect.
 To get the required fuel vapor, it requires turbulence in the fuel so that evaporation occurs. In Balaprakash's
research, the use of the Bubbling method can result in sufficient turbulence resulting in fuel vaporization. Bubbling
method is done by making bubbles - tiny air bubbles that are in the layer of fuel in the fuel vaporization chamber,
thus simplifying the evaporation of fuel [5]. In the study also stated that the use of Vapor Carburetor is more
efficient in fuel consumption compared to conventional carburetors.
Fuel has volatility. The ease of evaporation of fuel is determined by the value of Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP).
RVP is a liquid vapor pressure at 100oF in absolute size. The greater the value of RVP in the fuel, the easier it will
be to evaporate [6].
Treatment of fuel oil will affect the rate of evaporation of the fuel [7]. Heating fuel is done to speed up the time
of evaporation and increase the efficiency of combustion in the combustion chamber. Because of gas fumes a little
closer to the point of the flame when the compression stroke of the engine so that the time required to burn a mixture
of gas fumes in the event of business step shorter and produce combustion pressure higher and more efficient
combustion due to the less amount of fuel that not burned. Combustion in the cylinder chamber influenced by
several factors: temperature, the density of the mixture, composition, and turbulence in the mixture [8]
This research aims to study the effect of fuel heating on fuel consumption in the Vapor Carburetor using the
Bubbling method to save fuel consumption.

METHODS
This research is a quantitative descriptive study with an experimental method. This research was conduct at the
Automotive Laboratory of Mechanical Engineering Education Study Program, Faculty of Teacher Training and
Education, Sebelas Maret University. The subjects were gasoline engine 100cc 4 stroke single cylinder with the
following specifications:

FIGURE 1. a single cylinder motorcycle engine

Engine Type : 4 Stoke single cylinder, SOHC air cooled

Fuel System : Carburetor
Bore x Stroke : 50 mm x 49,5 mm
Engine Displacement : 97,1 cc
Compression Ratio : 9,0 : 1
Maximum Power : 7,3 HP in 8000 rpm
Maximum Torque : 0,74 kgf.m in 6000 rpm

Experimental Apparatus
The experiment of the research use two stages, there are experimental preparation and testing. The preliminary
stages as follows:
 FIGURE 2: experimental procedure

Preparation Phase

1. Vapor Carburetor. Vapor carburetor is a device that functions to mix fuel and air. This tool converts fuel oil
into steam and mixes fuel vapor with air and then puts it into the combustion chamber to start the engine.
Fuel vapor will be easier to mix with air so that the homogeneity of the mixture will be higher. Perfect
combustion will be achieved with a homogeneous fuel mixture.
In this study, the vapor carburetor uses a plastic vapor chamber measuring 57 mm x 57 mm x 180 mm and
uses a 25.4 mm diameter inlet made of PVC pipe with two adjusting valves. This Vapor carburetor is
equipped with a water separator to separate the water contained in the fuel by circulating fuel from the
evaporation chamber to the water separator continuously using an electric pump.
 Fuel

Fuel Flow
Fuel Pump
Air Flow
Fuel Vapor Flow
FIGURE 3. Vapor Carburetor Bubbling Method
2. RON 90. RON 90 oil is a new type of fuel oil (BBM) produced by Pertamina. RON 90 is produced by
adding additives to the oil refinery process. The composition of RON 90 is 10% heptane and 90% octane
also added with EcoSAVE additive. This EcoSAVE additive is not for increasing octane numbers but
combustion is cleaner, environmentally friendly and more economical. [9]
3. TuneUp Engine preparation to be used in research. TuneUp the engine, replace the lubricant, and replace the
spark plug. Not making changes to the engine sector that will be used as the object of research.
4. Prepare the test table.

Fuel Consumption Testing Phase

1. Fill the measuring cup with RON 90 type fuel with a volume of 50 ml of fuel.
2. Heat the engine for ± 10 minutes at engine speed 1500 rpm (± 100 rpm) to get the engine working
temperature.
3. Put a measuring cup on the fuel line.
4. Determine when the start and end of testing, by setting the stopwatches on the zero position when the fuel as
much as 50 ml and stopwatch stopped when fuel 0 ml.
5. Measure and record the time spent on fuel as much as 50 ml for each desired engine speed (1500 rpm, 2000
rpm, 2500 rpm, 3000 rpm, and 3500 rpm) using a Tachometer and Stopwatch.
6. Turn off the engine with a 5-minute break for each test, for the cooling process.
7. Repeat steps a through f as much as three times for each test either rev the engine as well as the study
variables (Carburetor Standard, and Vapor carburetor with fuel heating).
 Data Display

Data shown is obtained from the study. The results will be placed in the form of graphs with explanations
comparison between a conventional carburetor with Vapor Carburetor with fuel heating. Recognition of the results
of the data obtained will be analyzed further so that it can provide a direct answer to the existing problems.

Data Analysis

Data is obtained from the test of Vapor Carburetor fuel consumption by heating fuel. Phase analysis was done by
describing the effect of the use of Vapor carburetor with fuel heating compared with stock conventional carburetor
engine on fuel consumption levels.
 RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
1. Table fuel consumption rate of a conventional carburetor
To ensure the quality of the research results, it is necessary to control variables in this study.
As a control, this study tested a conventional carburetor with RON 90 gasoline. Here is a table of
conventional carburetor fuel consumption in milliliter/minute:
TABLE 1. Fuel Consumption of Conventional Carburetor

RPM 1500 2500 3500 4500 5500

1 3,33 6,10 7,58 10,31 11,76
Repetition 2 3,55 6,11 7,23 8,98 11,76
3 3,46 6,30 7,06 9,93 11,24
Average 3,44 6,17 7,29 9,74 11,59

Based on table 1 the results of the tests have an average of 1500 RPM of 3.44 milliliter/minute,
at 2500 RPM of 6.17 milliliter/minute, at 3500 RPM of 7.29 milliliter/minute, at 4500 RPM of
9.74 milliliter/minute, and 5500 RPM, at 11.59 milliliter/minute. These results are used as a
comparison in testing Vapor carburetor with fuel heating.

2. Table fuel consumption rate of Vapor carburetor with fuel heating

Tests carried out using Vapor carburetor with fuel heating without making any changes to the
engine and with the same conditions as the test with a conventional carburetor with the same test
method. Then the results shown in the following table 2 are obtained in milliliter/minute:
TABLE 2. fuel consumption rate of a Vapor Carburetor with fuel heating
RPM 1500 2500 3500 4500 5500

1 2,08 3,26 4,10 5,66 7,83

Repetition 2 2,05 3,12 4,07 5,54 7,03

3 2,03 3,19 4,23 5,59 7,16

Average 2,05 3,19 4,13 5,59 7,34

Table 2 shows the results of testing the consumption of Vapor Carburetor fuel by heating fuel.
At 1500 RPM, obtained the first test fuel consumption by 2.08 milliliter/minute, the second test of
2.05 milliliter/minute, and the third testing fuel consumption of 2.03 milliliter/minute. The results
of the three repetitions did not show any significant difference and had an average of 2.05
milliliter/minute.
In the 2500 RPM, the first test found fuel consumption of 3.26 milliliter/minute, the second test
was 3.12 milliliter/minute, and in the third test fuel consumption was 3.19 milliliter/minute. The
results of the three repetitions showed no significant difference and had an average of 3.19
milliliter/minute.
At 3500 RPM, obtained the first test fuel consumption of 4.10 milliliter/minute, the second test
of 4.07 milliliter/minute, and the third testing fuel consumption of 4.23 milliliter/minute. The
results of the three repetitions did not show any significant difference and had an average of 4:13
milliliter/minute.
At the first 4500 RPM, the fuel consumption was 5.66 milliliter/minute, the second test was 5.54
milliliter/minute, and in the third test fuel consumption was 2.03 milliliter/minute. The results of
the three repetitions showed no significant difference and had an average of 5.59 milliliter/minute.
At the first 5500 RPM, the fuel consumption was 7.83 milliliter/minute, the second test was
7.03 milliliter/minute, and in the third test fuel consumption was 7.16 milliliter/minute. The results
of the three repetitions showed no significant difference and had an average of 7.34
milliliter/minute.

9.00
8.00 7.83
7.00 7.16
7.03
6.00 pengulanga
5.66
Mililit

5.59
5.54
5.00 n1
pengulanga
4.00 4.23
4.10
4.07 n2
3.00 3.26
3.19
3.12 pengulanga
n3
2.00 2.08
2.05
2.03
1.00
0.00
1500 2500 3500 4500 5500
RPM
Figure 4: the graph of fuel consumption rate from Vapor Carburetor with fuel heating

Figure 4 shows the test results Vapor Carburetor with fuel heating. Can be seen there is no
significant difference from the three repetitions.
Then to show the difference from the results of conventional carburetor testing compared to the
Vapor Carburetor with fuel heating, figure 5 will show the results of the average fuel consumption
rate of the two systems in milliliter/minute.
 14.00

12.00
11.58

10.00 9.71 Conventional

Karburator
Mililiter

Carburetor
Konvension
8.00 al
7.28 7.32
6.00 6.17
5.59 Vapor
Vapor
Karburator
Carburetor
4.00 4.13 dengan
with Fuel
3.44 3.19 pemanasan
Heating
bahan bakar
2.00 2.05

0.00
1500 2500 3500 4500 5500
RPM
FIGURE 5. the graph of fuel consumption rate between the conventional carburetor and Vapor
Carburetor with fuel heating

Then the percentage reduction in fuel consumption will also be shown in table 3, followed
figure 6 to explain further the results of research carried out all the results in units of
milliliter/minute:
TABLE 3: Percentage of reduction in fuel consumption rate
RPM 1500 2500 3500 4500 5500

The percentage reduction in fuel consumption rate 40,38% 48,30% 43,28% 42,39% 36,78%
 60%

50%
48.30%
43.28% 42.39%
40% 40.38%
36.78%
30%
The percentage
persentase penurunan
reductionbahan
konsumsi in fuelbakar
20% consumption rate

10%

0%
1500 2500 3500 4500 5500
RPM
Figure 6: the graph of the percentage reduction in fuel consumption rate

Can be seen from the table 3 and the figure 6 reductions in fuel consumption that occurs in
every RPM testing, where the percentage of reduction of fuel consumption was highest in 2500
with 48.30% RPM, then at 5500 RPM, actually had the lowest percentage compared with other
RPM to 36,78%. From the percentage data above, it found that the average reduction in fuel
consumption was 42.22% in the overall testing RPM.
The results of this study showed that research conducted by Balaprakash and Moh'd Abu-
Qudais and colleagues also show the corresponding results are a decrease in fuel consumption
compared with a conventional carburetor [10]. In the bubbling method, fuel evaporation depends
on the number of bubbles in the evaporation chamber. In addition, the bubbles created are
proportional to the vacuum on the machine. This result can occur because of a mixture of fuel
vapor and air from the Vapor Carburetor is more homogeneous because it has a gas, and then as a
result of heating fuel increases the temperature, the resulting mixture is also complete combustion
and reduce fuel consumption required.

CONCLUSIONS
Based on the discussion above, there is an influence on the use of the Vapor Carburetor on fuel
consumption. The test results showed that the use of Vapor carburetor with fuel heating affects
fuel consumption rate with reduced levels of fuel consumption compared with a conventional
carburetor, the percentage of reduction of fuel consumption by an average of 42.22%.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The author thanks the lecturer Husin Bugis and Basori for guiding in this research. Thank you
to the Chair of the Mechanical Engineering Education Program, Sebelas Maret University, which
provides research facilities at the Automotive Laboratory.

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