Investigations on Biogas Fueled Dual Fuel DIesel Engine Employing Dimethyl Carbonate as a Fuel Blend

Abstract

ABSTRACT In this experimental study, the center point of our work is to evaluate the impact of dimethyl carbonate (DMC) fuel blended with diesel with regard to the engine performance, emissions, and combustion characteristics in dual fuel engine fueled by biogas at various DMC proportions and biogas flow rates. A water-cooled, four stroke, single cylinder Compression Ignition (CI) engine is adjusted to run in dual fuel mode. A simulated biogas is obtained by mixing CH4 and CO2 that are kept in red and black cylinders, respectively. Throughout the experimental process the engine is run at a constant speed of 1800 rpm. Three proportions of DMC are taken which are 10, 20, and 30% by volume and blended with pure diesel. Biogas flow rates taken are 12 lpm and 16 lpm. An experimental study was performed and it is found that a maximum of 3% drop in brake thermal efficiency at high DMC proportions but at low biogas flow rates, the efficiency increased up to 2.7%. NOx emissions were observed to be low on addition of DMC and further decreased at high biogas flow rates. The maximum reduction of 57.5% is observed when compared to diesel-only mode. CO emissions increased upto 28% at high DMC fractions. In combustion characteristics, the Maximum Heat Release Rate (MHRR) decreased at high DMC fractions and high biogas flow rates but decreased, at high loads. The maximum cylinder pressure also decreased at high DMC fractions and at high biogas flow rates. The period of combustion increases when DMC fraction is increased.