Effect of Fuel Cetane Numbers on Reducing the Ignition Delay Period and Exhaust Emissions from DI Diesel Engine

Abstract

In this present study a theoretical investigation is used to examine the effect of different fuel cetane numbers (CNs) on reducing the ignition delay and exhaust emissions from diesel engine at certain operating conditions. The operating conditions for such diesel engine include compression ratios, engine speeds and intake pressures and temperatures. For this purpose, the fuels with 40 and 50 CN were tested in a four cycle, four cylinders direct injection (DI) diesel engine. Theoretical analyses were conducted for the standard injection pressures (150 bars); the exhaust emissions were tested at engine speeds from 4500 min-1 to 1000 min-1 at full engine load. The results showed that, at all operating conditions, the ignition delay decreases as the cetane number, compression ratio, engine speed, intake pressure and temperature are increased so that combustion efficiency is improved. Also the exhaust emissions NOX, SO2 and CO are reduced when the fuel CN is increased from 40 to 50 for the standard injection pressure (150 bars). Increases in engine torque and power output were observed when the CN is increased.