Diesel Biodiesel Ethanol Research Articles

Performance and emission assessment of optimally blended biodiesel-diesel-ethanol in diesel engine generator

The composition of the base fuels (blend ratio) are strongly linked with fuel blend properties and has significant influence in determining engine performance and emission. Therefore, identification of optimal blend ratio for biodiesel-diesel-ethanol (BDE) blends is inevitable to achieve similar specification and performance as diesel. Many mathematical programming methods are available for refinery streamlining and most of them provide unrealistic solutions since much preference is given for economic constraints avoiding actual engine performance condition. This study estimated optimal composition for BDE blends by formulating a nonlinear optimization model to deliver maximum net heating value (LHV) while meeting multiple fuel property constraints. Applicable fuel mixing rules viz., Modified Lederer equation (kinematic viscosity), Grunberg-Nissan equation (Cetane Number), Kay’s mixing rule (density, net heating value, sulfur content) are used for predicting DBE blend properties. The blend ratio optimization model is tested at base case (without limiting fuel concentration) and by incrementing ethanol content (5 to 10%) to study the corresponding deviations in diesel & biodiesel proportions. BDE blends meeting premium diesel fuel quality standards are further selected for experimental evaluation of the fuel properties. Engine performance and emission tests are conducted in a four stroke, four-cylinder 15 kW diesel engine generator at all load conditions under the constant speed of 1600 rpm. The study identified a blend of 78% diesel, 17% biodiesel, and 5% ethanol as the optimal ratio (BDEopt), meeting all key fuel property criteria along with the least deviation in net heating value over diesel (4.3%). The study demonstrated BDE blends at optimized ratios to have fuel properties as well as engine performance and emission characteristic identical with diesel.

Experimental assessment of some key physicochemical properties of diesel-biodiesel-ethanol (DBE) blends for use in compression ignition engines

In order to reduce high import costs, and to comply with environmental standards, sustainable policies led to partially replace diesel fuel by biodiesel. However, other technologies, such as diesel-biodiesel-ethanol (DBE) mixtures, are being investigated. Blends of diesel B15 fuel (15 vol% of biodiesel in fossil fuel), with up to 2.0 vol% of this original additive, were investigated for anhydrous ethanol content ranging from 0 to 100 vol%. The density, the kinematic viscosity, the flash point, the cold filter plugging point (CFPP), the corrosiveness to copper, the cetane number, the lubricity, the contact angle and the surface tension were assessed over a large range of ethanol content. The most restrictive property was the flash point (up to 5 vol% of ethanol can be added to respect the Brazilian specification for diesel B7 fuel), followed by the cetane number (maximum ethanol content of 10 vol%). The limit rose to 40 vol% of ethanol when kinematic viscosity and density were considered. All tested blends (up to 20 vol% of alcohol) respected the Brazilian legislation in terms of lubricity. Considering CFPP, the maximum ethanol content varied from 60 to 100 vol%, depending on the region and period of the year. Corrosiveness did not provide any limitation of ethanol proportion. The sample with 1.0 vol% of additive always presented intermediate behaviour within experimental uncertainties to that observed for blends with 0.0 and 2.0 vol% of additive. The impact of the stability additive on the properties was reduced, but they lead to a null or small improvement of the investigated properties, mainly lubricity, contact angle, cetane number and viscosity, with exception of surface tension. Blends with additive at a concentration of 1.0 vol% with up to 20 vol% of anhydrous ethanol can be used in current diesel engine.

An experimental assessment on the influence of fuel-borne additives on ternary fuel (diesel-biodiesel-ethanol) blends operated in a single cylinder diesel engine.

The present work is dedicated to the experimental analysis on the influence of fuel-borne additives on ternary fuel blend operated in a single cylinder DI diesel engine. Alumina (Al2O3) nanoparticles were chosen as fuel additives at dosing levels of 10, 20, and 30ppm, respectively, and the ternary fuel (TF) is prepared by blending 70% diesel, 20% Jatropha biodiesel, and 10% ethanol. Performance characteristics like brake thermal efficiency (BTE) and brake-specific energy consumption (BSEC) and emission characteristics like HC, CO, NOx, and smoke along with combustion characteristics like cylinder pressure, HRR (heat release rate), and CHRR (cumulative heat release rate) were considered for analysis. Based on experimentation, it is observed that TF blended with 20ppm alumina nanoadditive (TF20) resulted in higher BTE and lowered BSEC by 7.8 and 4.93% and lowered HC, CO, NOx, and smoke emissions by 5.69, 11.24, 9.39, and 6.48% in comparison with TF. Moreover, TF20 resulted in higher cylinder pressure, HRR, and CHRR of about 72.67bar, 76.22J/°CA, and 1171.1J, respectively, which are higher than those of diesel and TF. Hence, it is concluded that the addition of 20ppm alumina nanoadditive in TF can enhance the engine performance and combustion as well as lower the exhaust pollutants simultaneously.

Analysis on the impact of biodiesel–ethanol–diesel fuel on the performance and emissions of a diesel engine

ABSTRACTBased on the physical and chemical properties of biodiesel, ethanol and diesel fuels, biodiesel–ethanol–diesel (abbreviated as BED) fuel were produced by compounding. The compatibility and stability of the BED and its compact on diesel engine performance and emissions were studied experimentally with six different BED fuels. The results show the following findings. Firstly, the biodiesel, ethanol, and diesel constituents can keep soluble at certain proportions when the volume ratio of the biodiesel is 25%~55% of the BED fuels. Secondly, the engine power decreases slightly, and the reduction amplitude becomes larger when the proportions of ethanol and biodiesel increase at medium speeds and high loads. Moreover, the power of the engine using the B30E10D60 fuel decreases by 10.2% when the engine is running at maximum torque condition. Thirdly, there is no significant variation in equivalent fuel consumption rate at low loads, and the fuel consumption rate becomes lower with the increase of oxygen content at high loads. Therefore, the equivalent fuel consumption rates of BED fuels are lower than that of pure diesel (petrochemical diesel). Finally, the CO emission of the BED is almost the same as that of pure diesel at low loads, but becomes lower at high loads. The NOx emission of the BED is slightly lower than that of pure diesel at low loads, but becomes higher at high loads. The NOx emission increases with the increase of biodiesel proportion and decreases with the increase of ethanol proportion. The THC emission of the BED is almost the same as that of pure diesel at low loads and becomes lower at high loads. The THC emission decreases when the biodiesel proportion increases, and increases when the ethanol proportion increases.

Performance and combustion characteristics of a compression ignition engine running on diesel-biodiesel-ethanol (DBE) blends – Potential as diesel fuel substitute on an Euro III engine

Experimental tests on an Euro III compression ignition engine were performed with blends of diesel B15 fuel with ethanol (0–20 vol%) and 1 vol% of an original additive, defined as a mixture of 72.5 vol% of castor oil, 17.5 vol% of soybean biodiesel and 10 vol% of n-butanol. Such mixtures were compared to commercial diesel B7 E0 fuel. The results showed that the addition of ethanol implied an increase of the ignition delay, a faster heat release and a decrease of maximum pressure. Without any optimization of injection timing and combustion, results showed a better conversion of ethanol chemical energy into brake power, when compared with a commercial flex fuel spark ignition engine. In addition, a small increase in the indicated efficiency, in particular at low loads (25% of the maximum torque obtained with commercial fuel under the same rotation), was also observed. Specific fuel consumption increased almost 2% for each 5 vol% of anhydrous ethanol in the blends since the density and the lower heating value of the fuel decreased. A significant decrease of maximum torque was also observed, due to a reduction of the injected volume of fuel (up to 30% in diesel B15 E20 fuel).

Performance and combustion characteristics of a compression ignition engine running on diesel-biodiesel-ethanol (DBE) blends – Part 2: Optimization of injection timing

Lately, renewable biofuels could be considered leading candidates for softening society’s liability to fossil derivate fuels and pollutants emission issues. In this paper, taking advantage of compression ignition engine’s better performance, biodiesel and ethanol dawn as renewable commercial fuels in substitution to diesel fuel without the need of geometrical engine modifications. Experimental tests were run in an Euro III multi-cylinder compression ignition engine (MWM 4.10 TCA), fueled with diesel, biodiesel (7 or 15 vol% in diesel fuel) and anhydrous ethanol (up to 20 vol%, by 5 vol% steps) blends. Each diesel-biodiesel-ethanol (DBE) blend, always containing a 1 vol% of original additive in order to ensure blend’s stability, is evaluated for three engine speeds (1500, 1800 and 2100 rpm), so as for two torque conditions (25% and 50%, considering 100% baseline torque conditions established by commercial B7E0 diesel fuel for each engine speed). An investigation is carried for engine’s performance parameters and combustion characteristics, regarding different injection timings for the fuel. The specific fuel consumption could be reduced 4%, while ethanol specific energetic conversion was up to 30% improved at optimized injection timings. On the other hand, the maximum pressure was increased up to 9% and the ignition delay varied 5° just by shifting the start of injection. The fuel injection timing optimization study has also shown a trend of 1° CA injection timing anticipation for each additional 5%vol of ethanol, when the engine was fueled with B15E5, B15E10 and B15E15.

Oxidized biodiesel as a cetane improver for diesel–biodiesel–ethanol mixtures in a vehicle engine

Most work in literature claim that the addition of biodiesel into diesel usually increases NOx emissions of compression ignition engines. Ethanol can be added to diesel and biodiesel blends in order to reduce NOx and also to increase the renewable fraction of the mixture. In this work oxidized biodiesel (induction period of 0 h) was evaluated as a cetane improver for blends containing diesel, biodiesel and ethanol so that the negative effects from the high resistance to auto-ignition (low cetane number) of ethanol can be mitigated. 13 blends of diesel, biodiesel, oxidized biodiesel and ethanol as well as an additivated mixture using 2-ethyl hexyl nitrate (2-EHN) were tested in a vehicle equipped with a four cylinders, turbo charged, common rail, diesel engine. The volumetric percentage of ethanol in the mixtures of diesel, biodiesel and ethanol was 0, 2, 4 and 6%, while the biodiesel volumetric content was 0, 5 and 35%. The results have revealed no significant changes in the wheel power for small percentages of ethanol and biodiesel. The use of 20% of oxidized biodiesel has proved to be an interesting additive for cetane improvement enabling quicker responses in acceleration and higher wheel power in comparison to the commercial additive (2-EHN). Emission tests using a mixture containing 90% of conventional diesel, 4% ethanol, 5% biodiesel and 1% oxidized biodiesel have shown reduction in NOx and PM emissions in comparison to conventional diesel.

Experimental investigation on effect of ethanol and di-ethyl ether addition on the spray characteristics of diesel/biodiesel blends under high injection pressure

In this work, a comprehensive experimental investigation on spray characteristics of four blended fuels, including diesel (D100), diesel-biodiesel (DB), diesel-biodiesel- ethanol (DBE), and diesel-biodiesel-diethyl ether (DBDE) has been conducted by using high pressure common rail injection system (up to 200 MPa). The transient spray behavior under various conditions was recorded by high speed photography with scattering light illumination. It is shown that higher injection pressure significantly accelerates the spray tip penetration (STP) evolution due to increased inertia of spray while increase in ambient pressure reduces the STP evolution due to higher gas resistance. With the addition of diethyl ether (DEE) into biodiesel, the STP of blended fuel tends to go down and corresponding projected area increases a lot when compared to DB. By means of particle droplet image analysis (PDIA) optical diagnostic method, spray microscopic parameters such as Sauter Mean Diameter (SMD), droplet diameter distribution probability curve, cumulative volume curve and characteristic diameter have been investigated. Results show that both the injection pressure and ambient pressure have significant influence on the spray microscopic characteristics. In addition, for fixed injection pressure and ambient pressure, when DEE is added into DB blends, the number fraction of smaller droplets increases, though the statistic diameter with peak probability is fixed at a certain value. Furthermore, SMD of the four tested fuels decreases sequentially in the order of DB, D100, DBE, and DBDE, indicating that DEE addition favors the atomization process.

The effect of different diesterol (diesel–biodiesel–ethanol) blends on small air-cooled diesel engine performance and its exhaust gases

Abstract In this research, we evaluated the effect of diesetrol fuel blends (comprised of diesel, biodiesel, and ethanol) on diesel engine exhaust emissions. Biodiesel is a clean fuel of vegetable origin produced from the transesterification of waste cooking oil collected from restaurants. So as to ameliorate the properties of the biodiesel combustion such as cetane number, viscosity and cloud point, ethanol was added to it with the obtained ethanol-biodiesel blend added to the diesel. In general, four samples containing different percentages of the three fuels were provided as diesel (100%, 97%, 94% and 91%) and biodiesel (2%, 4% and 6%) and ethanol (1%, 2% and 3%), shown as ExByDz. Full load motor testing was carried out and the engine performance and emission parameters were evaluated at speeds of 1700, 2100, 2500 and 2900 rpm. The results of the experiments showed that using fuel mixture diesetrol, power, and torque of motor did not exactly remain constant, hydrocarbon emissions decreased about 10% and carbon dioxide (CO2) increased around 7% by all diesetrol fuel blends. In general, using D91B6E3 fuel blend, the tested motor had the best efficiency, performance, and emission.

Stabilization of diesel–biodiesel–ethanol (DBE) blends: formulation of an additive from renewable sources

Sustainable policies led to partially replace fossil diesel fuel by biodiesel. However, other technologies, such as diesel–biodiesel–ethanol (DBE) blends, are being investigated. The major challenge related to these mixtures is the improvement in the miscibility and the stability of alcohol in diesel fuel. The stabilization effect of ternary additives, composed of biodiesel and vegetal oil from two renewable sources (soybean and castor oil) and n-butanol obtained through Doehlert designs of experiments, was assessed. This article initially investigated blends with commercial Brazilian diesel S10 fuel with 7 vol% of biodiesel, B7, and hydrous ethanol. However, adequacy to potential future fuels was investigated for Brazilian diesel S10 fuel with up to 30 vol% of biodiesel and anhydrous ethanol. The best additive was defined as a mixture of 72.5 vol% of castor oil, 17.5 vol% of soybean biodiesel and 10 vol% of n-butanol in diesel B15 fuel. Diversity on the carbon chain length and moieties in the additive was required to improve the miscibility of ethanol in diesel fuel. Nevertheless, high content of n-butanol did not contribute to stabilization since it acted as an extraction solvent. The results also showed that a minimum addition of 1.0 vol% was required to have a sufficient short-term and long-term stability in diesel B15 blends at temperatures higher than 10 °C and anhydrous ethanol content up to 20 vol%. Using such blends, the displacement of fossil fuel demand by biofuels can be increased from 7 to 33 vol%.

Performance, emission and combustion characteristics of a multicylinder common rail direct injection diesel engine fuelled with ethanol-acid oil methyl ester-diesel blends

ABSTRACTIn the present work biodiesel was used as an emulsifier for diesel and ethanol mixtures and used for diesel engine applications. The biodiesel was produced from acid oil, a waste by-product of vegetable oil refineries. The fatty acid methyl ester mixture, called acid oil methyl ester (AOME), was blended with diesel and ethanol. Characterization of these ethanol-biodiesel-diesel (EBD) blends was done to ascertain their suitability for common rail direct injection (CRDI) engines. The objective of the present work is to determine the optimal use of EBD blends. The selected blends were tested in a four-cylinder CRDI engine for different loads and at engine speeds of 1200, 1500 and 1800 rpm. Performance, emission and combustion characteristics of these blends ware then compared with standard diesel fuel. The studies indicate decreased brake thermal efficiency and increased carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon and smoke emissions as alcohol concentration in the blends increased while NOx emissions were significantly reduced. As engine speeds increased from 1200 to 1800 rpm, brake thermal efficiency increased, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon and smoke emissions were reduced and NOx emissions increased significantly. Knocking was observed for engine speeds beyond 1800 rpm.

Influence of diethyl ether (DEE) addition in ethanol-biodiesel-diesel (EBD) and methanol-biodiesel-diesel (MBD) blends in a diesel engine

The present work focuses on improving the performance of ternary blends (alcohol-biodiesel-diesel) by using DEE (diethyl ether) as ignition enhancer. The test fuels used are diesel, a blend of ethanol (20%)-biodiesel (40%)-diesel (40%) (denoted as EBD), blend of methanol (20%)-biodiesel (40%)-diesel (40%) (denoted as MBD), a blend of EBD with 5% Diethyl ether (denoted as EBD-5DEE), a blend of EBD with 10% Diethyl ether (denoted as EBD-10DEE) and a blend of MBD with 5% Diethyl ether (denoted as MBD-5DEE). MBD-10DEE blend was very viscous and the engine stopped working at higher engine loads. Hence, MBD-10DEE was not considered among the test fuels. Experimental results revealed that, the addition of DEE in EBD increased the combustion duration, cylinder pressure and BSFC with reduced NOx, PM and smoke emissions due to reduced ignition delay and higher latent heat evaporation. Whereas, DEE addition in MBD increased the PM, CO, CO2 and smoke emissions with lowered BSFC, cylinder pressure, heat release rate (HRR) and combustion duration. In comparison with EBD-10DEE, EBD-5DEE effectuated in higher cylinder pressure, HRR, EGT and NOx with lowered combustion duration, THC, CO2 and PM. This is due to improved fuel atomization and enhanced fuel spray characteristics. The peak HRR of EBD is highest and that of MBD-5DEE is lowest. Overall, EBD-5DEE and MBD-5DEE reflects better engine performance, combustion and emission characteristics than EBD blend.

Emission analysis of the effect of carbon nanowires in biodiesel–ethanol blends

ABSTRACTThe present work is dedicated to study of diesel–biodiesel–ethanol blends in a diesel engine using addition of various concentrations of carbon nanowires. Algae oil from microalgae has the potential to become a sustainable fuel source as biodiesel. The Neochloris oleoabundans algal oil was extracted by mechanical extraction method. The transesterification reaction of algal oil with methanol and base catalyst was used for the production of biodiesel. Experimental investigation results were studied for various parameters, such as exhaust emission of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon, oxides of nitrogen gases, smoke, and carbon dioxide.

Characteristics analysis of carbon nanowires in diesel: Neochloris oleoabundans algae oil biodiesel–ethanol blends in a CI engine

ABSTRACTThe present work is dedicated to the study of diesel–biodiesel–ethanol blends in a diesel engine using carbon nanowires additives of various concentrations. Algae oil from microalgae has the possibility of becoming a sustainable fuel source as biodiesel. The Neochloris oleoabundans algal oil was extracted by the mechanical extraction method. The transesterification reaction of algal oil with methanol and base catalyst was used for the production of biodiesel. Experimental investigation results were studied for various parameters such as exhaust emission of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon, oxides of nitrogen gases, and smoke.

Experimental investigation into effects of addition of zinc oxide on performance, combustion and emission characteristics of diesel-biodiesel-ethanol blends in CI engine

This study is to investigate the effect of zinc oxide nano particle addition to diesel-biodiesel-ethanol blends. Solubility tests were done for the fuels at three different temperatures. Out of eighteen blends, six blends were stable at 5°C, 15°C and above 25°C. Out of the six blends, two blends were checked for properties as per ASTM standards. One of them was chosen for testing the performance, combustion and emission characteristics in a diesel engine. In the same blend, zinc oxide was added in the amount of 250ppm. Property testing of the blended fuel indicated that there was an increase in calorific value due to addition of nano particle. The performance tests were conducted on a single cylinder four stroke direct injection diesel engine at a constant speed of 1500 rpm. For the blend containing zinc oxide, there was an increase in BSFC, HRR and cylinder pressure. Also, there was a decrease in BTE, NOx and smoke, as compared to diesel. The addition of zinc oxide nano particles increased the BTE and decreased the BSFC as compared with the biodiesel diesel ethanol blend at full load. This study gives a direction to utilize the renewable fuel to reduce the consumption of fossil fuel.

Effects of oxygenated fuels on the particle-phase compounds emitted from a diesel engine

In the present work, emission characteristics of soot particles and particle-phase organic compounds emitted from a diesel engine fueled with different oxygenated fuel blends were investigated. Two groups of oxygenated fuels with different oxygenated functional groups were selected as the target fuels to be blended with the diesel fuel. The results indicate that both of the diesel-biodiesel (DB) blends and the diesel-biodiesel-ethanol (DBE) blends could reduce particle mass emission rate and particle total number concentration at either low or high engine load. The DBE blends present more significant impacts on suppressing the soot particles on both physical and chemical aspects as compared to the DB blends. The geometrical mean diameter of the particles from either the DB blends or the DBE blends is decreased with the increase of the blending ratio of the oxygenated fuels. Both of the DB blends and the DBE blends have an effective suppression impact on almost all the measured n-alkanes at the high load, but present a promotional impact on the short carbon chains compounds at the low load. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are significantly suppressed by using the oxygenated fuels, and OH functional group in the DBE blends is observed to have higher oxidation effect on the PAHs than OCO in the DB blends. Moreover, oxygenated fuel blends have a promotional impact on the total measured oxy-PAHs, but present a suppression impact on the total measured nitro-PAHs. However, the impacts of the oxygenated fuels on the individual PAH derivative (oxy- and nitro-PAH) differ among each other.

Impact of metals on corrosive behavior of biodiesel–diesel–ethanol (BDE) alternative fuel

Corrosive behavior of biodiesel–diesel–ethanol (BDE) fuel blends upon exposure to metals, namely, mild steel, copper and aluminum was studied by static immersion at room temperature and 60 °C. The change of fuel properties, i.e., total acid number, density, viscosity, calorific value, flash point, and color changes were investigated. Moreover, fuel compositional changes, such as water content, oxidation product level, and metal elements in the fuel blends were examined. Finally, the effect of fuel blends on corrosion rate (CR), morphology of corrosion products, and chemical structure of metals were studied. Results revealed that the CR of metals in BDE fuels is in the order: aluminum < mild steel < copper at both temperature conditions. The degradation of fuel properties and corrosion rate of metals in BDE fuel blends are lower than neat biodiesel (B100), whereas higher than petro–diesel (B0). Corrosiveness of B20D75E5 is lower than B20D70E10 upon exposure to metals.

Performances, Emissions and Soot Properties from a Diesel-Biodiesel- Ethanol Blend Fuelled Engine

The aim of this study is to provide experimental results for assessing diesel-biodiesel-ethanol (DBE) blended fuels as future technology for efficiently using these three fuels and for reducing engine emissions. The results included engine performance, brake specific emissions and soot properties for diesel-biodiesel blended with 0%, 5%, 10% and 20% ethanol tested at steady speed of 1800 rev/min under different engine loads. It was found that DBE blends can reduce NOx, CO2, volatile organic fractions and particulate mass-number concentration with improved thermal and combustion efficiency while slightly decreased the particle size.

Volatile organic compound emissions from an engine fueled with an ethanol-biodiesel-diesel blend

With the advent of energy crisis, vehicle engines need alternative energy sources eagerly to supply power. Ethanol-biodiesel-diesel blends are considered to be effective solutions. One way is diesel engines burning blended fuels. Diesel engines exhaust many kinds of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) when mixed fuels burn in them. Extremely poisonous as these VOCs are, they can cause severe damage to the natural environment as well as human health. To explore the characteristics of the unregulated emissions produced by diesel engines and then to limit them, research and studies should be conducted. The research in this paper used a single-cylinder diesel engine and a chromatograph mass spectrometer to investigate 9 kinds of VOCs (benzene, toluene, n-butyl acetate, ethylbenzene, p-xylene, m-xylene, styrene, o-xylene, n-undecane) emissions of ethanol-biodiesel-diesel (EBD) and diesel (D). The solid phase adsorption-thermal desorption-gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS) had an advantage in measuring and analyzing VOC emissions, so it was used for investigating the total emissions of 9 kinds of VOCs. Based on the standard curves of VOCs, the GC/MS computed the peak area of each VOC and realized the quantitative analysis of target compounds. By the calculating equation of VOC specific emissions and other test parameters (exhaust flow, engine power, dilution ratio, test time), the test got VOC specific emissions of two different fuels under different operating conditions. The test selected five typical conditions to collect exhaust when burning EBD and D. EBD contained 10 vol. % ethanol, 30 vol. % biodiesel, 55 vol. % diesel, 2.5 vol. % n-butyl alcohol and 2.5 vol. % iso-octyl alcohol, which had strong stabilities and good economy. From the analysis of the test results of VOC emissions, it was found that EBD increased total emissions by 84.2% at rated power but decreased by 14.85% at 10% load and by 20.39% at 50% load compared with diesel. But under other test conditions, VOC emissions with EBD were lower than diesel. VOC emissions of the two fuels were mainly benzene and toluene at medium and high load, which increased up to 47.4%. Emissions of other components increased at low load. In general, it was possible to decrease VOC emissions at medium or low loads when the diesel engine was fueled with EBD. The ozone specific reactivities (SR) of the engine exhaust for the two test fuels were approximately the same for the selected operating conditions. The SRs of EBD were a bit lower than D at medium and low loads. EBD had an advantage relative to VOC emissions which was found mainly at medium and low loads. This study is valuable for contributing to the building of a VOC emissions standard and for demonstrating the potential benefit of substitute fuels in reducing VOCs.

Investigation on the combustion characteristics and particulate emissions from a diesel engine fueled with diesel-biodiesel-ethanol blends

This study investigated the influence on the combustion characteristics and particulate emissions of a diesel engine fueled with DBE (diesel-biodiesel-ethanol) blended fuels. The effects on in-cylinder pressure, heat release rate, combustion duration, diffusion fuel mass, BSPM (brake specific particulate mass) and BSPN (brake specific number concentrations) when diesel-biodiesel is blended with 0%, 5%, 10% and 20% ethanol were tested in a 4-cylinder naturally-aspirated direct-injection diesel engine at a steady state speed of 1800 rev/min under five engine loads. Overall, compared with ULSD (ultra-low-sulfur diesel), DBE blends can effectively reduce BSPM, BSPN and maintain a good trade-off relationship among PM-PN-NOX. Compared with biodiesel, the blended fuels perform better in suppressing BSPN, leading to a reduction in the number of ultrafine and nano-particles.