Feasibility of Using Diesel-Palm Fatty Acid Distillate Ethyl Ester-Hydrous Ethanol Blend in an Unmodified Direct Injection Diesel Engine: An Assessment of Stability, Fuel Properties, and Emissions.

Abstract

This research focuses on the feasibility of using diesel–palm fatty acid distillate ethyl ester (PFADE)–ethanol in a direct injection diesel engine without any major modifications. Hydrous ethanol was selected for blending in diesel to produce diesohol. The palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD) and PFADE were directly blended in ethanol and diesel. A comparative study of the phase stability in diesel–PFAD–hydrous ethanol and diesel–PFADE–hydrous ethanol was performed with varied blend proportions. The fuel properties, emissions (CO, CO2, NOx, O2, exhaust gas temperature), and fuel consumptions of diesel, PFADE, diesel–PFADE–hydrous ethanol were compared to evaluate the feasibilities of these fuel blends in a diesel engine at the engine speeds 1100, 1400, 1700, 2000, and 2300 rpm. At 2300 rpm, the maximum CO2 emission with 10 wt % hydrous ethanol in the blend was approximately 2%. With regard to fuel consumption, clearly, 20 wt % diesohol gave higher consumption than 10 wt % ethanol at a maximum engine speed of 2300 rpm. The blend D50PE40E10 gave the lowest fuel consumption, while the maximum fuel consumption was with the D10PE70E20 blend. Therefore, both 10 and 20 wt % hydrous ethanol in the diesel fuel are alternatives usable in a diesel engine without modifications.