Improving Cold Flow Properties of Biodiesel, and Hydrogen-Biodiesel Dual-Fuel Engine Aiming Near-Zero Emissions

Abstract

AbstractIncreasing concerns over environmental issues and traditional resource depletion have heightened the motivation to use clean and alternative fuels. Biodiesel is an alternate renewable fuel to be used in diesel engines. On the other hand, expert studies designate hydrogen as the fuel of the longer term. Ideally, it is possible to possess both zero-greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and zero regulated emissions, carbon monoxide (CO), particulate matter (PM), hydrocarbon (HC) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) from IC engines powered by hydrogen. A dual-fuel combustion system that burns hydrogen as the primary fuel and biodiesel as a pilot fuel is the main focus of this work. Use of diesel in dual-fuel combustion is typical. To completely replace diesel with biodiesel, improvement of cold flow properties (CFPs) of biodiesel is an absolute necessity. Cold flow properties indicate the low-temperature operation ability of any fuel. To render biodiesel usable during winter, biodiesel requires urea fractionation, which is discussed in this study. The most challenges with a hydrogen-operated dual-fuel engine are the power output almost like that of diesel engines, and to sustain stable engine operation at lean engine running conditions. Supercharging can address the power output issue, but it increases the likelihood of premature ignition and knock tendency unless the equivalence ratio and other parameters are properly adjusted. A hydrogen-diesel supercharged dual-fuel engine results are presented in this study. The charge dilution (by N2) that helps to lower NOx emissions is also presented. Furthermore, a detailed engine conditions and engine parameters are suggested to make near-zero emissions from hydrogen-biodiesel dual-fuel engine.KeywordsBiodieselFractionationCold flow properties of biodieselHydrogenSuperchargingHydrogen-biodiesel dual-fuel engineEmissions