Gaseous and particulate emissions analysis using microalgae based dioctyl phthalate biofuel during cold, warm and hot engine operation

Abstract

Presented in this study is an analysis of gaseous and particulate emissions for three selected fuels during cold, warm and hot engine operation; low sulphur neat diesel (D100), and 10 and 20% (% v/v) of dioctyl phthalate (DOP) blended with diesel. Experiments were conducted on a turbocharged common rail heavy-duty diesel engine over a custom-designed drive cycle. The impact of engine temperature and fuel properties during warm-up on emissions has been analysed. The presence of oxygen molecules in DOP was found to have a major influence on emissions. NOx emissions were higher by ∼ 10%, while the HC emissions were lower by ∼ 150% with DOP blended fuels, compared to D100, during cold engine operation. Total particle number (PN) concentration and total particle mass (PM) followed the same trend and decreased as the engine warmed up. Compared to both DOP blended fuels, total PN with D100 was higher during cold engine operation and reduced significantly as the engine warmed up. The particle count median diameter (CMD) was found to have an opposite trend with D100 (increasing with engine warm-up) compared to both DOP blended fuels (decreasing with engine warm-up).