Influences of alternative diesel fuels on tailpipe emissions and particulate matter under the highway fuel economy test cycle

Abstract

Diesel engine vehicles are widely used worldwide in community and goods transport sectors due to their engine’s high efficiency and durability. Despite continuous improvements in various aspects, the combustion of compression ignition in conventional diesel engine is yet an important source of pollution and particulate matter that causes issues to human health and the environment. The objective of this research work is to study the use of conventional diesel (B7), biodiesel (B10) and premium diesel (DHi) fuels that affects to the release of exhaust gas and particulate matter emissions from tailpipes during a Highway Fuel Economy Test (HWFET) cycle. The experimental results have shown that the combustion of B7 and B10 reduced particulate matter by 0.38% and 51.0%, reduced total unburned hydrocarbon by 25.3% and 28.3%, reduced carbon monoxide by 43.3% and 64.0%, and reduced nitric oxide by 6.0% and 16.5%, respectively compared to DHi baseline on mass basis. The vehicle running on B10 releases a higher particle concentration with a smaller size compared to DHi.