Evaluation of a Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) and Effects on Emissions of a Passenger Car Diesel Engine

Athanasios Dimitriadis,Kalle Lehto,Dimitrios Katsaounis,Ioannis Natsios,Athanasios Dimaratos,Stella Bezergianni,Zissis Samaras

doi:10.3389/fmech.2018.00007

Abstract

In the coming years, the application of paraffinic biofuels, such as Hydrotreated Vegetable Oils (HVO), in the transportation sector is expected to increase. However, as the composition of HVO is different compared to conventional diesel, the engine optimized for conventional fuel cannot take full advantage of the HVO beneficial properties. Suitable adjustment of a number of engine parameters, if not complete engine re-calibration, will enable the full exploitation of such fuels’ potential for lower exhaust emissions and reduced fuel consumption. In the present work, the emission characteristics of HVO fuel in a light-duty Euro 5 diesel engine have been studied, under steady-state operation, as well as during the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC). The study was expanded to the investigation of exhaust emissions under modified Main Injection Timing (MIT) and EGR rate. The NEXBTL fuel, produced by Neste, was considered in the study and was compared with conventional market diesel. Emissions of nitric oxides (NOx), soot, carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrocarbons (HC) were studied. At default MIT and EGR settings the use of HVO resulted in a significant reduction of all regulated emissions. In addition, it was observed that the adjustment of MIT and EGR can enhance the exploitation of HVO potential for emissions reduction, highlighting the differences with the conventional diesel fuel.

Highlights

the necessity of reducing greenhouse gas emissions have led to a substantial effort to develop alternative energy sources
In particular, each member state shall ensure that the share of energy
difficult to be achieved at short term

Summary

Introduction

The increasing demand on fossil fuels, the rising price of crude oil and the necessity of reducing greenhouse gas emissions have led to a substantial effort to develop alternative energy sources. Each member state shall ensure that the share of energy from renewable sources in all forms of transport in 2020 is at least 10% of the total energy consumption. Since the introduction of other renewable energy sources in road transport is rather difficult to be achieved at short term without shifting to alternative powertrains HVO Effects on Diesel Emissions cells etc.), it is expected that the goal set by the new regulation will be mainly met through extensive use of biofuels (Rakopoulos et al, 2006; Kousoulidou et al, 2012). As concessions given by the EU Parliament allow the car manufacturers lead-time until 2020 to bring down the official diesel NOx emissions, this dominance is not expected to end on the short-term (Hooftman et al, 2018). It is expected that biodiesel will continue to play a critical role in European market of biofuels

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Conclusion