A numerical approach in the investigation of the effects of diethyl ether and ethanol mixtures on combustion characteristics and NO emissions in a DI diesel engine

Abstract

In this study, the effects of adding ethanol and diethyl ether to diesel fuel on combustion characteristics and NO emissions were numerically investigated. 100% diesel fuel (D100) and by volume 90% diesel+10% ethanol blend (D90E10), 80% diesel+20% ethanol blend (D80E20), 80% diesel+10% ethanol+10% diethyl ether blend (D80E10DEE10) and 85% diesel+ 10% ethanol+5% diethyl ether mixture (D85E10DEE5) was used as fuel. Analyzes were carried out using a single cylinder direct injection diesel engine at 2000 and 3000 rpm engine speed conditions. AVL FIRE software was used for numerical study. In-cylinder pressure, cumulative heat release rate, turbulent kinetic energy (TKE), NO emissions and velocity distributions in the combustion chamber were investigated for five different fuel types. As a result, the in-cylinder pressure and heat release rate of ethanol and diethyl ether blended fuels were lower than diesel fuel at both speeds. This is due to the calorific value of the fuel. It was observed that NO emissions decreased as the ethanol content in the fuel increased. For both engine speeds, the highest TKE value was obtained in D90E10 mixed fuel, and the lowest value was found in D80E10DEE10 mixture fuel. Ethanol positively affected the turbulent kinetic energy. The flow rate of ethanol was higher than diesel and diethyl ether fuel.