Detailed speciation of emissions from a diesel engine fuelled with canola methyl ester

Abstract

Although the effects of biodiesel combustion on emissions of regulated toxic components have been widely studied, the issue of specific hydrocarbon species production has not yet been comprehensively understood. This study compares detailed exhaust emissions from a compression ignition engine fuelled with canola methyl ester and mineral diesel, as a reference fuel. Additionally, blends of these two fuels were examined. The experiments were performed on a 4-cylinder diesel engine, where fuel was injected in a single dose. The experimental matrix included two engine load sweeps at rotational speeds corresponding to maximum torque and maximum power. Detailed exhaust composition was measured with the use of a Fourier transform infra-red analytical system. To enable unbiased evaluation of the effect of different fuels on hydrocarbons emissions fuel carbon conversion into species carbon was considered. The results showed that there is not a monotonic effect of the content of biodiesel fuel on particular hydrocarbon species. In the case of some hydrocarbon species, the lowest emissions were recorded for mixture of the two fuels.