Influence of ethanol on the combustion process and soot formation in the diesel cylinder

Abstract

Ethanol is an attractive alternative fuel because it is a renewable bio-based resource and it is oxygenated, thereby providing the potential to reduce particulate emissions in compression–ignition engines. Thus, the use of ethanol in a diesel engine can simultaneously solve two important problems - the replacement of non-renewable diesel fuel and improving the environmental performance of diesel by reducing soot emissions into the atmosphere. Thus, the use of ethanol in a diesel engine can simultaneously solve two important problems - the replacement of non-renewable diesel fuel and improving the environmental performance of diesel by reducing soot emissions into the atmosphere. The presented work considers the main reasons for reducing the formation of solid particles in the diesel cylinder, taking into account the transformation of the combustion process. The article presents the results of experimental studies to reduce the soot content in the exhaust gases by direct injection of ethanol into the combustion chamber with ignition from the burning fuel jet. The implementation of this method somewhat complicates the design of the diesel engine but allows you to control the combustion process and exclude the maximum amount of diesel fuel. The characteristics of the combustion process of alternative fuels in the diesel cylinder and the main patterns of change are described. In conclusion, the main problems of the use of ethanol and promising directions of its use as a fuel for the engine with compression ignition are considered, taking into account the peculiarities of the combustion process and the formation of harmful components of exhaust gases.