Alternative Fuels Research Articles

Assessing Particulate Emissions of Novel Synthetic Fuels and Fossil Fuels under Different Operating Conditions of a Marine Engine and the Impact of a Closed-Loop Scrubber

Particle emissions from marine activities next to gaseous emissions have attracted increasing attention in recent years, whether in the form of black carbon for its contribution to global warming or as fine particulate matter posing a threat to human health. Coastal areas are particularly affected by this. Hence, there is a great need for shipping to explore alternative fuels that both reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as anticipated through IMO, and also have the potential to reduce particle emissions significantly. This paper presents a comparative study of the particulate emissions of two novel synthetic/biofuels (GTL and HVO), which might, in part, substitute traditionally used distillate liquid fuels (e.g., MDO). HFO particulate emissions, in combination with an EGCS, formed the baseline. The main emphasis was laid on particle concentration (PN) and particulate matter (PM) emissions, combining gravimetric and particle number measurements. Measurements were conducted on a 0.72 MW research engine at different loads (25%, 50%, and 75%). The results show that novel fuels produce slightly fewer emissions than diesel fuel. Results also exhibit a clear trend that particle formation decreases as engine load increases. The EGCS only moderately reduces particle emissions for all complaint fuels, which is related to the formation of very fine particles, especially at high engine loads.

Alternative green application areas for olive pomace catalytic pyrolysis biochar obtained via marble sludge catalyst

Evaluating industrial wastes in the system with minimum preprocessing and generation economically valuable products from them have critical importance. In this regard, especially cheap, wieldy, and readily available catalysts have been researched to increase variety of useful products in pyrolysis systems, to reduce process time, and to increase quality and diversity of products. Therefore, in this study, marble sludge (named K1) was evaluated as catalyst at different dosages (10%, 20%, 30%, 50%) and pyrolysis temperatures (300, 500, 700 °C) in olive pomace (OP) pyrolysis and; the potential green applications of produced new biochars at new usage areas with different purposes based on characteristics were investigated. ANOVA test results showed that temperature and catalysts ratio had significant effect on pyrolysis product yields since significance value for K1 and temperature was lower than 0.05 for pyrolysis products. OP-K1 biochars had alkaline properties and high earth metal quantities. Moreover, increment in K1 ratio and temperature resulted in decrement of the biochar surface acidity. Therefore, it can be indicated that these biochars can have a potential usage for anaerobic digestion processes, lithium-ion batteries, and direct carbon solid oxide fuel cell (DC-SOFC) but further electrochemical property test should be performed. Moreover, produced biochars can be alternative fuels in some processes instead of coal since they have low S content and high heat values. Consequently, it is foreseen that produced biochars will have an important place in the development of potential usage areas with a new and environmentally friendly approach in different areas apart from the conventional uses of catalytic pyrolysis chars.Graphical abstract

Effects of modified intake surface to gasoline engine performance with the use of LPG

Indonesia observes a yearly rise in motor vehicle possession. Failure to consider alternate fuels in these trends may result in the depletion of gasoline. Out of the potential alternatives, Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) appears to be the most favorable. The sole issue lies in the elevated engine temperature and subsequent decrease in performance caused by its utilization. To address this vulnerability, it is advisable to employ a cooling injection method, such as water injection. Nevertheless, the rise in exhaust emissions linked to water injection highlights the necessity for optimization. This study aims to optimize coolant injection systems by conducting experiments with different modifications, such as conventional intake surfaces, dimple intake surfaces with gaps, and dimple intake surfaces without gaps. The gapless dimple inlet surface demonstrates superior performance in terms of exhaust emissions, power, and torque compared to both conventional inlet surfaces and slotted dimple inlet surfaces

Application of the ARCADIA Method on a Bulk Carrier Vessel Equipped with a Wind‐assistance Device

AbstractThe maritime industry is undergoing a major transformation to achieve reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Many new options, such as alternative propulsion systems and fuels, optimized routes, or auxiliary propulsion systems, including wind‐assistance devices, need to be integrated and aligned within a wide network of different stakeholders. New ways are necessary to work with and manage the increasing complexity in the maritime industry. Model‐based systems engineering approaches are a promising strategy to gain a better understanding of the as‐is situation and to develop advanced solutions. This paper shows the application of the ARCADIA method for the maritime industry, with the target of integrating wind‐assistance devices to vessels, using the ARCADIA modeling language and the Capella tool.

Novel biofuel blends for diesel engines: Optimizing engine performance and emissions with C. cohnii microalgae biodiesel and algae-derived renewable diesel blends

Fossil diesel is a significant global fuel; however, environmental concerns and resource scarcity necessitate alternative fuels. Third-generation microalgae biodiesel (MB), despite its carbon neutrality, leads to higher oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions and poor engine performance. Renewable diesel (RD), also known as hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), could reduce these issues. A quasi-dimensional multi-zone combustion model is employed in this study to look into how different fuel blends of diesel, C. cohnii MB, and algae-derived RD affect the performance, combustion, and emissions of a compression ignition (CI) engine. The study uses a 2000 rpm engine arrangement with different engine loads, and validates the computational analysis with an experimental test engine arrangement. The study aims to explore the potential of sustainable biofuels in CI engines. D70MB30 (70 vol% diesel, and 30 vol% MB) fuel blend leads to a higher ignition delay period (IDP) while lowering peak cylinder pressure (PCP) and peak heat release rate (PHRR) compared to D100; however, when RD is added to diesel-MB fuel blends, it reduces IDP and increases PCP and PHRR. Brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) for the D70MB30 blend rises by 5.28–8.9 %, while brake thermal efficiency (BTE) reduces by 0.98–4.27 %. However, RD in MB blends reduces BSFC by 1.57–3.41 % and marginally enhances BTE, resulting in greater fuel economy and efficiency. D70MB30 fuel blend results in higher specific carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions while lowering particulate matter (PM) and smoke emissions compared to neat diesel due to its high intrinsic oxygen content. In contrast, RD with the MB blend reduces specific CO2 and NOx emissions; however, it increases PM and smoke emissions due to the NOx-PM trade-off. The optimum results occur with a full load and D70MB15RD15 (70 vol% diesel, 15 vol% MB, and 15 vol% RD) fuel blend. Compared to the D70MB30 blend, D70MB15RD15 reduces BSFC, specific CO2, and NOx by 2.15 %, ∼1%, and 8.37 %, respectively, while increasing PM emissions at 100 % load.

General Methods for the Analysis of Chemical Properties of Fuels

This article is the third in a series of articles focused on presenting common methods for evaluating conventional and alternative fuels. The first two articles of the series were devoted to the determination of elements and non-hydrocarbon compounds in fuels [1]) and the determination of the physical properties of fuels [2]). This text presents an overview of the chemical properties determined for individual fuels. The chemical properties, acidity and alkalinity of fuels, content of unsaturated compounds, aniline point, water content, oxidation stability, and corrosive properties of fuels are presented in this article. The main goal of the article is to provide a comprehensive overview of which fuels are monitored, why they are monitored, and what methods are used for this monitoring. The emphasis is mainly on standardized parameters and tests, but in some cases, non-standardized tests are also discussed, or (additional) determinations not required by standards. For conventional and alternative fuels, several physical chemical, or other properties are used to evaluate the quality of these fuels. In this article, we present an overview of the chemical properties that are monitored for liquid and gaseous conventional and alternative fuels. These are acidity and alkalinity, content of unsaturated compounds, aniline point, water content, oxidation stability, and corrosive effects of fuels. In the article, we present the testing methods that are used to monitor these properties. Furthermore, we also present the reasons why these properties are monitored for individual fuels. Emphasis is placed on standardized parameters and tests, i.e., those prescribed by the relevant standards for individual fuels. However, parameters and alternative methods are also discussed, which are not prescribed by any standard for the respective fuels, but are supplementary determinations. The determination of elements and hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon compounds in fuels potentially falls within the scope of this article. However, since two separate articles [1] were devoted to these parameters, they will not be discussed here

Technical Analysis Using 100 Percent Palm Kernel Shell as Fuel in Circulation Fluidized Bed Boiler Type

Energy is a basic human need that has increased in use. Given the limited energy resources, it is necessary to manage energy appropriately and efficiently. Energy efficiency not only has an impact on reducing production costs, but also on reducing emissions. As a concrete step to support the government's net zero emission program by 2060, the company is trying to use alternative biomass fuels, namely: palm kernel shell. The purpose of this study is to conduct a technical and economic analysis of the use of 100 percent palm kernel shells as fuel in a circulation fluidized bed boiler type power plant. This research was conducted at power plant unit 2 of PT XYZ, located in Cilegon, Banten Province. The parameters measured are limited to boiler efficiency, thermal efficiency, and heat rate. The results showed that when using palm kernel shells, boiler efficiency decreased 0.47 percent, thermal efficiency decreased 0.24 percent, and heat rate increased 22 kcal/kWh or 0.76 percent. By considering of three operational parameters (boiler efficiency, thermal efficiency, and heat rate) it can be concluded that technically the use of 100 percent palm kernel shells as fuel in the plant is feasible. There is no major impact on boiler performance regarding the transition of coal to palm kernel shells. The impact of long-term use of palm kernel shells on equipment is beyond the scope of this research.

Reduction of Emissions in a Single Cylinder Diesel Engine using Blends of Diesel & Cotton Seed Oil with Unconventional Catalytic Converter

This paper investigates the feasibility of mitigating emissions from diesel engines through the combined application of alternative fuels and an unconventional catalytic converter employing cost-effective catalysts. The dwindling reserves of fossil fuels necessitate the exploration of sustainable power sources for internal combustion engines, thereby reducing our dependence on these finite resources. This study evaluated the performance parameters and emissions of a single-cylinder, four-stroke, stationary diesel engine fueled with blends of 10%, 20%, and 30% cottonseed oil in diesel (by volume). Following the identification of the optimal blend, a performance test was conducted again with the inclusion of a custom-designed and fabricated catalytic converter. Exhaust emissions were subsequently measured with and without the converter in operation. The design of the unconventional catalytic converter considered the engine's specifications, incorporating cerium oxide and sponge iron as oxidation catalysts for CO and hydrocarbon (HC) conversion. Charcoal was employed as a reduction catalyst to specifically target NOx emissions.

Entropy-based environmental analyses of marine fuel preferences for onboard ships

The maritime industry is currently discussing various aspects of alternative fuels, and finding viable and adaptable options for alternative fuels remains a sectoral issue. This study examines the impact of eight alternative fuels on energy and environmental sustainability, based on operating data of a two-stroke diesel engine. Entropy-based thermodynamic analyses were conducted for five different operations using two indices developed to consider the environmental impact, aimed at serving the decarbonization of this sector. Liquid hydrogen led to an 18 % reduction in fuel load, while ethanol resulted in a 5.55 % increase in engine efficiency. In contrast, using hydrogen resulted in a cumulative 27.01 % reduction in CO2 emissions. When evaluating the reduction rate alongside the improvement rate, it indicates a potential of 34.96 %. Additionally, recommendations for alternative fuels during the sector's decarbonization transition were proposed at the end of the study.

Utilization of Livestock Waste (Cow Manure) and Household Waste (Waste Cooking Oil) as Briquettes to Substitute Alternative Fuels

As the global population continues to grow, there is a corresponding increase in energy consumption annually. The need for alternative energy sources is evident in light of the finite reserves of oil. Briquettes are a renewable energy option that can help decrease reliance on oil. Briquettes can be produced through the utilization of organic waste materials. This research was carried out from 19 September to 18 October 2023, at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Palangka Raya, and the Analytical Laboratory, Muhammadiyah University, Palangka Raya. The aim of this research is to determine the quality of briquettes made using cow dung charcoal and cooking oil as an adhesive. The parameters of this research are water content, ash content, burn rate, and colorific value. This research used a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) model with 4 treatments and each treatment was repeated 5 times so that there were 20 experimental units. The composition of the briquettes consists of (P1) = 90% cow dung and 10% used cooking oil, (P2): 87.5% cow dung and 12.5% ​​used cooking oil, (P3): 85% cow dung and 15% used cooking oil and (P4): 82.5% cow dung and 17.5% ​​used cooking oil. The results of variance analysis showed that the parameters of water content, ash content, burn rate, and colorific value did not show a significant influence between treatments (P>0.05) although there was a trend that P1 and P3 were better than the other treatments. It was concluded that the best quality of briquettes in terms of water content and ash content was in the P1 treatment (Briquettes with a composition of 90% cow dung and 10% used cooking oil), whereas if viewed from the burning rate and calorific value of the best briquettes, it was the P3 treatment (Briquettes with a composition of 85 % cow dung and 15% used cooking oil).

New technologies in combustion chambers of aircraft turbine engines

The paper presents the projected emissions of combustion components over the next few years. The basic tasks that a modern combustion chamber must fulfill were defined. The process of hydrocarbon combustion in the theoretical and actual cases was analyzed. The assessment evaluates the effect of engine operating parameters such as rotational speed, thrust, temperature downstream the compressor and combustion on the formation of toxic combustion components. The paper also presents alternative fuels. One of the most promising aspects related to the matter is the use of sustainable aviation fuels - SAF. Alternative methods of powering aircraft engines, such as hydrogen or nuclear propulsion, were presented. An analysis on the latest combustion chamber design systems that allow to reduce the amount of exhaust gasses emitted into the atmosphere was conducted.

Влияние государственных мер поддержки на развитие рынка электрозарядной инфраструктуры в РФ

Currently, there is a growing awareness worldwide among societies and governments regarding pollution resulting from human activities, raising the issue of climate change. All this, together with other factors, puts a priority theme of environmental friendliness in various areas of the economy, and the field of transport was no exception. The use of vehicles running on alternative fuels and electricity emerges as a pressing agenda. The article examines the development of the charging infrastructure market for electric vehicles, taking into account existing measures to stimulate the electric vehicle market in both Russian and foreign practices. The aim of the study is to systematize the accumulated experience of stimulating demand. Since the electric vehicle market and the charging infrastructure of cities are interrelated, an important task is to identify existing barriers hindering the development of the electric vehicle market in Russia and to investigate support measures. The investment potential of projects for the development of electrical charging infrastructure was assessed, taking into account various forms of support.

Tuning CuMgAl-Layered Double Hydroxide Nanostructures to Achieve CH4 and C2+ Product Selectivity in CO2 Electroreduction.

Electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (eCO2RR) over Cu-based catalysts is a promising approach for efficiently converting CO2 into value-added chemicals and alternative fuels. However, achieving controllable product selectivity from eCO2RR remains challenging because of the difficulty in controlling the oxidation states of Cu against robust structural reconstructions during the eCO2RR. Herein, we report a novel strategy for tuning the oxidation states of Cu species and achieving eCO2RR product selectivity by adjusting the Cu content in CuMgAl-layered double hydroxide (LDH)-based catalysts. In this strategy, the highly stable Cu2+ species in low-Cu-containing LDHs facilitated the strong adsorption of *CO intermediates and further hydrogenation into CH4. Conversely, the mixed Cu0/Cu+ species in high-Cu-containing LDHs derived from the electroreduction during the eCO2RR accelerated C-C coupling reactions. This strategy to regulate Cu oxidation states using LDH nanostructures with low and high Cu molar ratios produced an excellent eCO2RR performance for CH4 and C2+ products, respectively.

A Comprehensive Review on Nanofuel : Bringing Clean Energy to Reality

In recent years, the depletion of fossil fuels has become a pressing concern with the world’s ever increasing energy demands. The rapid consumption of fossil fuels, such as coal, natural gas, and oil has given rise to significant environmental and economic consequences. These non-renewable energy sources are limited and their extraction as well as usage contributes to pollution, harmful emissions eventually leading to global climate change. To address this challenge, many researchers have been exploring the potential of nanofuel as a secondary energy carrier. Nanofuels are a class of alternative fuels that incorporate nanoparticles to enhance combustion efficiency, reduce emissions, and improve overall energy output. This paper presents an innovatory concept of nanofuel wherein the enhancement of the fuel efficacy by suspension of nanoparticles in a liquid carrier is described and major challenges are identified, which urges researchers in materials, chemistry, physics , and engineering to collaborate across disciplines. Key Words : Nanofuel, Metal-oxide nanoparticles, Performance, Combustion, Emission

Investigation of the effect of ether oxygenated additives on diesel engine performance, combustion, and exhaust emissions - An experimental approach

Conventional energy sources, including diesel and petrol, are decreasing day by day, while their reserves are limited. However, it is difficult to find alternative fuels to replace them. Hence, to fulfill the growing energy demand and reduce environmental emissions, it is vital to find a wide variety of oxygenated compounds to conventional diesel fuels that show low emission potential from transport engines. In this research, we investigated diesel engine performance, combustion, and exhaust emissions with the addition of 10 %, 15 %, 25 %, and 30 % of three different oxygenated blends, including Diethylene Glycol Dimethyl ether (DGM), Di-n-Butyl Ether (DBE), and Tripropylene-Glycol Monomethyl ether (TPGM). This paper presents the brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC), Brake Thermal Efficiency (BTE), Brake Mean Effective Pressure (BMEP), and Brake Specific Energy Consumption (BSEC) for these fuel blends. The generated emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), Carbon Monoxide (CO), and nitrogen oxide (NO) were quantified for four different engine speeds of 1500, 1800, 2000, and 2400 rpm for neat (100 %) oxygenated blends. This research also shows the in-cylinder pressure and heat release rate (HRR) of these three oxygenated blends. The outcome of this paper will help future researchers to develop automobiles and vehicles for oxygenated blends with conventional fuels.

Syngas application in various engines

Current engines are not designed to use syngas as fuel, which presents challenges such as differences in air-to-fuel ratio and fuel properties compared to traditional fuels like gasoline and diesel. This research recommends applying dual combustion, regulating pressure rate, using catalysts and employing EGR (exhaust gas recirculation), in order to improve engine efficiencies while reducing emissions. This study concludes that syngas is more effectively utilized in diesel and HCCI engines (homogeneous charge compression ignition) than in gasoline engines due to the cycle variations impacting efficiency. With technological advancements, syngas and other alternative fuels can be developed to reduce emissions and production cost, justifying their implementation.

Effect of ZnO nanoparticle on combustion and emission characteristics of a diesel engine powered by lemongrass biodiesel: an experimental approach

Biodiesel (BD) is one of the efficient alternative fuels for diesel engines (DE) which can be employed sans any modifications. The present study is focused on the extraction of BD from a lemongrass plant and analyzing combustion, efficiency, and emission characteristics of the DE by adding NPs at different concentrations to reduce both hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide, and NOx emissions simultaneously from the DE. The fuel samples were prepared by adding different dosages of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) with neat lemongrass biodiesel (LGB) such as 50 ppm, 100 ppm, 150 ppm, 200 ppm, and 250 ppm per liter. From the results, it is found that the properties of BD were improved by the addition of ZnO NPs and it increased oxygen concentration in the sample resulting in better combustion and lower exhaust pollutants. The DE tested with the LGB + 150 ppm sample has registered maximum brake thermal efficiency (BTE) and lower specific fuel combustion (SFC) for all loading conditions compared to other samples. The value of heat release rate (HRR) and in-cylinder pressure are higher for LGB + 150 ppm due to its specific properties compared to other LGB blends. The presence of ZnO NPs in LGB has reduced harmful emissions from the DE such as carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbon (HC), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), and smoke by 4.01%, 5.56%, and 19.01%, when compared to neat LGB.

New insights into the effect of molecular structure on stable intermediate formation during the pyrolysis of normal and branched alkanes − II: Impact of carbon number and degree of branching

Transitioning to scalable and sustainable fuels produced from renewable feedstocks will be essential for decarbonizing the transportation sector. As these fuels typically encompass a wide range of molecular classes, it is important to understand the impact of varying molecular structure on their overall combustion behavior. To that end, experiments were conducted to investigate the thermal decomposition of ten neat hydrocarbons with varying carbon numbers and degree of branching in a shock tube at engine-relevant temperatures. A multi-wavelength, laser absorption spectroscopy-based approach was used to measure key stable intermediates formed during the pyrolysis process. The experiments revealed clear trends in intermediate formation and distribution, influenced by the molecular structure of each fuel. Additional experiments were conducted with a 2% composite fuel (consisting of a 50% n-heptane/50% iso-octane mixture)/Ar mixture to assess the impact of fuel blending on the pyrolysis process. A companion paper (Boddapati et al., 2024) delineates the experimental strategy and provides comprehensive mole fraction time histories of the major products, along with thorough analysis of carbon atom recovery. This paper establishes empirical trends in the measured intermediate yields with varying carbon number and degree of branching, and provides a discussion on the chemical phenomena governing the thermal decomposition of these fuels. In addition, this paper also lays the foundation for developing compact, robust chemical kinetic models for conventional and alternative fuels based on compositional information obtained through infrared spectra. The insights gained from these studies have the potential to guide sustainable fuel design and contribute to modeling the combustion chemistry of next-generation fuels.

Using NaOH@Graphene oxide-Fe3O4 as a magnetic heterogeneous catalyst for ultrasonic transesterification; experimental and modelling

Burning fossil fuels causes toxic gas emissions to increase, therefore, scientists are trying to find alternative green fuels. One of the important alternative fuels is biodiesel. However, using eco-friendly primary materials is a main factor. Sustainable catalysts should have high performance, good activity, easy separation from reaction cells, and regenerability. In this study, to solve the mentioned problem NaOH@Graphene oxide-Fe3O4 as a magnetic catalyst was used for the first time to generate biodiesel from waste cooking oil. The crystal structure, functional groups, surface area and morphology of catalyst were studied by XRD, FTIR, BET, and FESEM techniques. The response surface methodology based central composite design (RSM-CCD) was used for biodiesel production via ultrasonic technique. The maximum biodiesel yield was 95.88% in the following operation: 10.52:1 molar ratio of methanol to oil, a catalyst weight of 3.76 wt%, a voltage of 49.58 kHz, and a time of 33.29 min. The physiochemical characterization of biodiesel was based to ASTM standard. The magnetic catalyst was high standstill to free fatty acid due to the five cycle’s regeneration. The kinetic study results possess good agreement with first-order kinetics as well as the activation energy and Arrhenius constant are 49.2 kJ/min and 16.47 * 1010 min−1, respectively.

A review on effects of diethyl ether on cyclic variations in diesel engines

Diethyl ether (DEE) can be used in diesel engines as a fuel or fuel additive. The review study was compiled from the findings of several studies in this area. The diverse techniques are employed to mitigate the detrimental pollutants emitted by diesel engines. The first approach to reducing emissions involves altering the fuel system and engine design to improve combustion, but this is an expensive and time–consuming process. The utilization of various exhaust gas devices, such as a particle filter and catalytic converter, is necessary for the second way. However, the engine performance could be negatively impacted by these tools. Additionally, these exhaust devices increases the vehicle and maintain costs. The use of different alternative fuels or fuel additives is the third way that reduces emissions while improving engine performance. The particulate matter (PM), smoke, and nitrogen oxides (NOx) are the main environmental pollutants released by diesel engines into the atmosphere. The decreasing PM and NOx emissions at the same time is practically very difficult. The majority of researches indicate that using alternative fuels, such as natural gas, biogas, and biodiesel, or blending additives with conventional or alternative fuels, is the best way to reduce emissions. However, the characteristics of the fuel have a significant influence on cycle variations, which have a significant impact on engine performance, fuel economy, and emissions. Therefore, it is very important that the results of studies on the impact of DEE on cyclic variation are evaluated together to practice applications and to guide future studies. As a result, the primary focus of this study is on the usage of DEE as a fuel or fuel additive with different diesel engine fuels. The aim of this review is to investigate, using the available knowledge in literature, how DEE affects cyclic variations.