Low Sulfur Diesel Research Articles

The Impact of Car Pollution on Infant and Child Health: Evidence from Emissions Cheating

Abstract In 2008, Volkswagen introduced a new generation of “Clean Diesel” cars and heavily marketed them to environmentally conscious US consumers. Unknown to the public, these cars were anything but clean, emitting pollutants up to 150 times the level of comparable gas-fuelled cars. We study the rollout of these emissions-cheating diesel cars across the United States from 2008 to 2015 as a natural experiment to examine the impact of moderate levels of car pollution on infant and child health in the general population. Using the universe of vehicle registrations, we find that an additional cheating diesel car per 1,000 cars increases $\mathrm{PM_{2.5}}$, $\mathrm{PM_{10}}$, and ozone by 2, 2.2, and 1.3$\%$, respectively, while the low birth weight rate and infant mortality rate increase by 1.9 and 1.7$\%$, respectively. Similar impacts are found for acute asthma attacks in children. These health impacts occur at all pollution levels and across the socioeconomic spectrum.

Particle emissions from a modern heavy-duty diesel engine as ice nuclei in immersion freezing mode: a laboratory study on fossil and renewable fuels

Abstract. We studied ice-nucleating abilities of particulate emissions from a modern heavy-duty diesel engine using three different types of fuel. The polydisperse particle emissions were sampled during engine operation and introduced to a continuous-flow diffusion chamber (CFDC) instrument at a constant relative humidity RHwater=110 %, while the temperature was ramped between −43 and −32 ∘C (T scan). The tested fuels were EN 590 compliant low-sulfur fossil diesel, hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), and rapeseed methyl ester (RME); all were tested without blending. Sampling was carried out at different stages in the engine exhaust aftertreatment system, with and without simulated atmospheric processing using an oxidation flow reactor. In addition to ice nucleation experiments, we used supportive instrumentation to characterize the emitted particles for their physicochemical properties and presented six parameters. We found that the studied emissions contained no significant concentrations of ice-nucleating particles likely to be of atmospheric relevance. The substitution of fossil diesel with renewable fuels, using different emission aftertreatment systems such as a diesel oxidation catalyst, and photochemical aging of total exhaust had only minor effect on their ice-nucleating abilities.

The impact of hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) on the formation of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) from in-use heavy-duty diesel vehicles

This manuscript contains an assessment of tailpipe emissions and secondary aerosol formation from two in-use heavy-duty diesel vehicles (HDDVs) with different aftertreatment systems when operated with ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) and hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) operated on a chassis dynamometer. Secondary aerosol formation was characterized from the HDDVs' diluted exhaust collected and photochemically aged in a 30 m3 mobile atmospheric chamber. Primary nitrogen oxide (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) emissions were reduced for both vehicles operating on HVO compared to ULSD. For the vehicles with no selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system, secondary aerosol production was ~2 times higher for ULSD compared to HVO. The composition of primary aerosol was exclusively organic for the vehicle with no SCR system regardless of fuel type. The composition of secondary aerosol with HVO was primarily organic for the vehicle equipped with diesel particulate filter (DPF)/SCR system; however, when the same vehicle was tested with ULSD, the composition was ~20% organic (80% ammonium nitrate). The results reported here revealed that the in-use vehicle with no-SCR had a non-functioning DPF leading to dramatic increases in secondary aerosol formation when compared to the DPF/SCR vehicle. The high-resolution mass spectra analysis showed that the POA of HVO combustion contained relatively lower portion of CH class compounds (or higher CHO class compounds) compared to ULSD under the similar conditions, which can be rationalized by the higher cetane number of HVO. Substantial growth of oxidized organic aerosol (such as m/z 44 peak) were observed after 5 h of photochemical oxidation, consistent with aged organic aerosols present in the atmosphere. The C4H9+ fragment at m/z 57 peak was used as a tracer to calculate evolution of secondary organic aerosol formation.

Catalytic Oxidative Desulfurization of Model Diesel Using TBHP-DMF System

Hydrodesulfurization (HDS) technique is no longer applicable in achieving ultra-low sulfur diesel because of high operational cost, high operating temperature and low efficiency. Due to these disadvantage, catalytic oxidative desulfurization (Cat-ODS) has been introduced as a new technique in achieving ultra-low sulfur diesel. The performance of the Fe catalyst was investigated in Cat-ODS of model diesel using terbutyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) as oxidant and dimethylformamide (DMF) as an extracting solvent. The physicochemical analysis of this catalyst was accomplished using several characterization techniques such as BET, EDX and HRTEM. It posseses high surface area of 226 m2g-1 with small particle sizes in the range of 6-7 nm and less metal leaching. Under optimize condition, about 90% of sulfur was removed from model diesel. In the absence of catalyst, only about less than 80% of organosulfur compounds were removed. The Cat-ODS system showed the promising technology to be compliment with hydrodesulfurization (HDS) to produce low sulfur diesel.

Assessment of carbonyl and PAH emissions in an automotive diesel engine fueled with butanol and renewable diesel fuel blends

A comparative experimental study assessing the unregulated emissions of carbonyl compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in solid particle and gaseous phase and the contribution to ozone formation potential, was carried out for an automotive diesel engine operating under two representative urban driving conditions with butanol and renewable diesel. Both renewable fuels were blended with ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) fuel to replace 13% of aromatic compounds in the reference fuel (Butanol at 13%v/v –Bu13- and Renewable diesel –RD- at 13% v/v –RD13-) and in the case of RD, an additional concentration of 20% v/v was tested (RD20). The particle and gas phase sampling procedure for PAHs characterization was carried out without any air dilution. A total of 18 PAHs (16 requested by the US EPA + benzo[e]pyrene and dibenzo[a,l]pyrene which is acknowledged for its significant carcinogenic potential) were determined. Independently of the engine operating mode, Bu13 exhibited the highest carbonyl compound emissions among all tested fuels (M1:18.8 mg/kWh of formaldehyde, M2: 18.2 mg/kWh of acetaldehyde) and the highest ozone formation potential (307 mg O3/kWh). Both RD blends exhibited similar carbonyl emissions (RD13 = 7.0 mg/kWh, RD20 = 8.3 mg/kWh) compared to ULSD (10.2 mg/kWh). Independently of the fuel and engine operating mode, most of the PAHs were present in the gas-phase, with predominance of those between 3 and 4 rings (up to 70%). No trend was observed on PAHs emissions with the addition of butanol or RD to the ULSD. It was observed that some local combustion conditions might increase the emissions of PAHs for both renewable fuels, mainly those of lower molecular weight.

Clean diesel and dirty scandal: The echo of Volkswagen’s dieselgate in an intra-industry setting

In 2015 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency revealed that German car manufacturer Volkswagen had illegally installed software to produce fake NOx-emissions results. This study aims to analyze how the German news media framed VW’s role. Furthermore, since the scandal shifted from a single company to an industry-wide crisis, this contribution also aims to establish whether the German news media reframed the crisis as an industry-wide phenomenon in 2018. The results show that the Dieselgate was reframed in 2018 as an industry-wide scandal where the conflict, morality, and attribution of responsibility frame were most dominant. We argue that the first wrongdoer in an industry creates a crisis history, which potentially becomes an intensifying factor for competitors who are confronted with similar crises in a later stage. Findings extend the theoretical premise of an organizational reputation as postulated in SCCT, as the organizational reputation is most likely influenced by changing industry-wide perceptions as well.

Roles of the structural defects and the combined acidity of H3PW12O40/Zr-MCM-41 catalysts in ultralow sulfur diesel production

This work contributes to the production of ultralow-sulfur diesel using phosphotungstic acid immobilized on Zr-MCM-41 catalysts containing structural defects and combined acidity.

CoMo/Al2O3-MgO Supported Catalysts: Improvement of Hydrodesulfurization Activity and Optimization of Operational Processing

Hydrodesulfurization (HDS) plays a vital role in the production of clean fuels when more stringent environmental legislation forces the sulfur content in fuels to an ultra-low level. There are two alternative approaches for producing ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) in a cost-effective way, including the activity improvement of HDS catalysts and the optimization of the operating conditions in HDS reactions. In this study, the activity improvement of HDS catalysts was first examined, and then the optimization of operational conditions was further explored to gain the ULSD in a cost-effective way. In detail, the catalysts were improved through optimizing the ratio between active metal (Mo) and promoter (Co) based on the MgO-Al2O3 as support. Precursors of the improved oxide catalysts and sulfide catalysts were characterized by various techniques, and the catalytic performances were further evaluated in the hydrodesulfurization of dibenzothiophene. Catalysts with the best catalytic performance were chosen to optimize the reaction conditions. Results show that the optimal amounts of catalysts were 4 wt.% of MoO3 and combined with 2 wt.% of CoO. Moreover, the optimal reaction conditions were reaction temperature of 240 °C, total reaction pressure of 4.0 MPa, the hydrogen-to-oil volume ratio of 300, and LHSV of 2.0 h−1. Under the optimal reaction condition, the desulfurization rate could reach to 99.8%.

Experimental analysis of diesel fuel properties with blended Mahua oil biodiesel for CI engines

The experimental research work done here in this study reveals the consequence of biodiesel blending on the characteristics of CI (diesel) engine and its performance. In this paper Biodiesel obtained from Mahua oil is experimented, its preparation is through the two-step transesterification process in the presence of low molecular weight alcohols for example methanol and a base such as sodium hydroxide. Research experiments were conducted so as for the evaluation of the experimental performance parameters of a 1-cylinder, water-cooled and four strokes, direct injection Compression Ignition (CI) engine with the above mentioned specially prepared Mahua oil for better results. The experiments were observed with thrice attempts and the results obtained from all the fuel blends were thoroughly formulated, analysed and compared with clean mineral diesel available in the market used in automotive sector.

Desulphurisation of dibenzothiophene and 4,6–dimethyl dibenzothiophene via enhanced hydrogenation reaction route using RePd–TiO2/SiO2 aerogel catalysts: kinetic parameters estimation and modelling

Re/Pd-TiO2/SiO2 aerogel catalysts were synthesized by using a sol-gel method and supercritical drying in excess solvent and investigated in the reaction of hydrodesulphurisation (HDS) of dibenzothiophene (DBT) and 4,6-dimethyl dibenzothiophene (4,6-DMDBT). Both Re/Pd catalysts, obtained with and without the use of mesitylene in the synthesis step, have shown increased conversions of up to 70 % in the desulphurization of 4,6-DMDBT, when compared to conventional Co/Mo hydroprocessing catalysts. This observation is of importance for conversion of highly refractory 4,6-DMDBT and hydroprocessing to produce ultra-low sulphur diesel fuels, ULSD. In order to quantify the extent of desulphurisation, which proceeds via a hydrogenation route, conversions of DBT and 4,6-DMDBT along with evolution of reaction products characteristic for the direct desulphurisation route and the hydrogenation route were monitored by using a gas chromatography?mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analytical technique. The reaction was performed at 630 K and 6 MPa in a batch catalytic reactor. The experimental results were used in the Hougen-Watson kinetic model describing DBT and 4,6-DMDBT desulphurisation on ? and ? active sites. Kinetic parameters of this complex catalytic kinetics were determined by using a Genetic Algorithm method and minimum deviation function. Values of calculated kinetic parameters and values of the ratio of 3-methylcyclohexyltoluene (MCHT and dimethyl biphenyl (DMBPH) expressed as the MCHT/(MCHT+DMBPH) ratio ranging between 0.66 and 0.94, have confirmed that the hydrogenation route is the dominant route for desulphurisation of 4,6-DMDBT.

Experimental investigation on direct injection diesel engine fuelled by JFO with nano additives

In everyday life, there seems to be an need for fuel poses a severe threat to globalization. In this investigative work, we're focusing at performance and emissions analysis of a single cylinder diesel engine. The experiment is conducted by using a blend of 20% of JFO and 80% of diesel. Zirconium Oxide nano particles (ZrO2) are graded at 25, 50 and 75 PPM (B20 + 25 PPM, B20 + 50 PPM, B20 + 75 PPM) fuel composites with a fuel mixture prepared by ultrasonic equipment to help obtain a stable suspension of nano particles. SEM and X-ray diffraction analysis of Zirconium oxide nano particles were performed to test particle size mixed with the biofuel blend. The chemical reaction and mixing speed are excellent, although the properties of the nano particles show a higher external area/efficiency ratio during combustion, which ultimately leads to better diesel engine properties. In test fuels, B20 + 50 PPM shows healthy performance at both efficiency and Emission rates are unburnt hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitric oxides and smoke and so many characteristics. The BTE engine B20 + 50 PPM of fuel is greatly enhanced by 10.1% compared to B100 fuel. Hydrocarbon emissions are reduced by 13.4%, CO2 emissions by 9.52%, NOx emissions by 31%, and smoke emissions by 39% with pure biofuel (B100). It is clear that the biofuel blend at the B20 + 50 PPM ratio in diesel fuel has increased efficiency and reduced emissions of HC, CO, CO2 and smoke because NOx emissions have increased due to better combustion properties. Through this research, Zirconium oxide nano particles additionally improved the combustion quality, which showed better performance and showed lower nitric oxides, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and smoke compared to clean diesel and biodiesels.

Comparative study on combustion and particulate emissions for diesel-biodiesel and diesel-diglyme blends

Experiments were conducted on a 4-cylinder direct-injection diesel engine using ultralow sulfur diesel blended with biodiesel or diglyme to investigate the influence on combustion and particulate emission characteristics. Five biodiesel blends and five diglyme blends with oxygen concentrations of 2%, 4%, 6%, 8% and 10% were prepared respectively and tested separately at five engine loads of maximum torque speed of 2400 rpm with same boundary condition. With the increase of oxygen content, in-cylinder pressure and heat release curve advanced for both blends but the peak values were lower than of diesel, the trend was more obvious for diglyme blends. Besides combustion centre was slightly varied for biodiesel fuels but postponed significantly for diglyme blends. Meanwhile, smoke opacity, brake specific particulate emissions and the geometric mean diameter of particle decreased accompanying with the increase in soluble organic fraction proportion, and biodiesel blends had more obvious variations. In addition, the total particle number concentration and the particle smaller than 100 nm in diameter increased gradually and unidirectionally for biodiesel blended fuels, but for diglyme blends, the peak value of the total particle was found from the blend containing 2% oxygen and the particles from all diglyme blends were higher than that from diesel. Compared with biodiesel, diglyme fuels had more particulate and particles emissions on the same oxygen base.

Impact of high-speed diesel drop trains: Pursuing cleaner diesel engines

This paper is associated with a video winner of a 2020 American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics (DFD) Milton van Dyke Award for work presented at the DFD Gallery of Fluid Motion. The original video is available online at the Gallery of Fluid Motion, https://doi.org/10.1103/APS.DFD.2020.GFM.V0052.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of compressed natural gas implementation in the public bus transit fleet in Delhi, India

Buses in Delhi have been fueled by compressed natural gas (CNG) since 2000, at significant expense, to improve air quality. We evaluate the emissions impacts and cost-effectiveness of CNG buses relative to diesel, in the early 2000s, and more recently – given stricter vehicle emission standards – in Delhi, and the Indian context. We also analyze the hypothetical use of cleaner diesel buses, instead of CNG, in the early 2000s. We consider health critical and greenhouse gas emissions, and capital, operating and maintenance costs, over the service life of buses. A scenario analysis is conducted to assess bus fleet emissions due to the higher costs of CNG buses resulting in some trips being shifted to diesel buses, or other modes.CNG buses in the early 2000s significantly reduced particulate and greenhouse gas emissions, relative to the diesel buses they replaced, and also cleaner diesel buses complying with more stringent BS-III/IV standards. However, cleaner diesel buses would likely have produced emission reductions with similar or better cost-effectiveness ratios relative to CNG. The emission reductions due to low-floor BS-III/IV compliant CNG buses relative to their diesel counterparts, during 2010–2015, were lower, with worse or similar cost-effectiveness ratios, compared with CNG buses relative to diesel in the early 2000s.The scenario analysis revealed that, under a budget constraint, it is preferable to remove diesel buses, and allow other motor vehicles to meet any shortfall in CNG bus supply, strictly from a particulate and nitrogen oxide emissions perspective. So, allowing only CNG buses to operate in Delhi was an effective policy choice in the early 2000s for mitigating local air pollution.We finally explore the implications of our results for mitigating emissions from bus fleets in Delhi and other Indian cities going forward.

Application of Thermal Energy Storage to a Combined Heat and Power Plant

Abstract: The present study deals with the economic and environmental benefits that can be attained through the coupling of borehole thermal energy storage (BTES) and combined heat and power (CHP). Energy prices are significantly higher during the winter months due to the limited supply of natural gas. This dearth not onlyincreases operating costs but also emissions, due to the need to burn ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD). The scope of this paper is to present a TRNSYS model of a BTES system that is designed using actual operational data from the campus CHP plant.

Locating and Quantifying Carbon Steel Corrosion Rates Linked to Fungal B20 Biodiesel Degradation.

Fungi that degrade B20 biodiesel in storage tanks have also been linked to microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC). A member of the filamentous fungal genus Paecilomyces and a yeast from the genus Wickerhamomyces were isolated from heavily contaminated B20 storage tanks from multiple Air Force bases. Although these taxa were linked to microbiologically influenced corrosion in situ, precise measurement of their corrosion rates and pitting severity on carbon steel was not available. In the experiments described here, we directly link fungal growth on B20 biodiesel to higher corrosion rates and pitting corrosion of carbon steel under controlled conditions. When these fungi were growing solely on B20 biodiesel for carbon and energy, consumption of FAME and n-alkanes was observed. The corrosion rates for both fungi were highest at the interface between the B20 biodiesel and the aqueous medium, where they acidified the medium and produced deeper pits than abiotic controls. Paecilomyces produced the most corrosion of carbon steel and produced the greatest pitting damage. This study characterizes and quantifies the corrosion of carbon steel by fungi that are common in fouled B20 biodiesel through their metabolism of the fuel, providing valuable insight for assessing MIC associated with storing and dispensing B20 biodiesel. IMPORTANCE Biodiesel is widely used across the United States and worldwide, blended with ultra-low-sulfur diesel in various concentrations. In this study, we were able to demonstrate that the filamentous fungus Paecilomyces AF001 and the yeast Wickerhamomyces SE3 were able to degrade fatty acid methyl esters and alkanes in biodiesel, causing increases in acidity. Both fungi also accelerated the corrosion of carbon steel, especially at the interface of the fuel and water, where their biofilms were located. This research provides controlled, quantified measurements and the localization of microbiologically influenced corrosion caused by common fungal contaminants in biodiesel fuels.

Synthesis of (Gly) 3 PMo 12 O 40 @ MnFe 2 O 4 organic/inorganic hybrid nanocomposite as an efficient and magnetically recoverable catalyst for oxidative desulfurization of liquid fuels

Here, we report on the preparation and characterization of a new organic/inorganic hybrid nanocomposite comprised of the glycine-modified polyoxomolybdate (abbreviated as (Gly)3PMo12O40) and manganese ferrite (MnFe2O4) nanoparticles. The hybrid nanocomposite was successfully synthesized under mild ultrasound irradiation and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive X-ray, and vibrating sample magnetometer techniques. To explore the (Gly)3PMo12O40@MnFe2O4 applicability, it was used in catalytic oxidative desulfurization (Cat-ODS) reactions. The experimental results revealed excellent catalytic activity of the hybrid nanocomposite in the removal of hazardous organosulfur compounds from model fuel oils (MFOs) and typical real gasoline. The sulfur removal from MFOs could reach up to 95% at the operating temperature of 35°C, the ambient pressure, and the contact time of 1 hour. Quite surprisingly, the total sulfur content of real gasoline was lowered from 0.4985 to 0.0198 wt% under the same reaction conditions. In addition, the (Gly)3PMo12O40@MnFe2O4 presented a brilliant magnetically reusability with slight diminution after seven consecutive Cat-ODS cycles. These results encourage the further exploration of the application of (Gly)3PMo12O40@MnFe2O4 organic/inorganic hybrid nanocomposite in the production of clean diesel and jet fuels.

Ultraviolet radiation as an antimicrobial treatment in Brazilian diesel oil: Effect of biodiesel, sulfur, and water contents

This work aimed to use ultraviolet (UV) radiation to prevent microbial growth in diesel fuel with different compositions. Commercial samples of ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD) and high-sulfur diesel (HSD) fuels with 11% of biodiesel were used as purchased. These samples were incorporated of 20% biodiesel and different amounts of free water (no addition, 2500, and 10,000 mL.m−3). All samples were stored for ten days and subjected to UV-C radiation treatment (55 W, 253 nm) for 360 min to reduce the number of microorganisms. Physicochemical parameters, such as water content, kinematic viscosity, density, and oxidative stability, were measured before and after UV-C treatment. The presence of microorganisms was detected by UV–vis spectrophotometry (600 nm) during the simulated storage, before and after UV-C treatment. An increase in the number of microorganisms was observed during the storage period due to the water content. The UV-C radiation reduced the microorganisms, especially in samples with high water content. Low sulfur levels did not affect the efficiency of the treatment. Significant variations in kinematic viscosity and oxidative stability were observed after the treatment. The presence of microorganisms was reduced by more than 50% after the incidence of UV-C radiation. Therefore, UV-C radiation is a promising technique for microbiological control in diesel fuel. These effects can last up to ten days after the first incidence of radiation.

On the lubricity mechanism of carbon-based nanofluid fuels

Utilizing fuels blended with nanofluid particles may enhance fuel delivery and combustion in engines. However, the underlying tribochemistry related to fuel delivery when using nanofluids remains unclear. In this study, we investigate fuel lubricity over low-sulfur diesel (D100), diesel fuel containing 10 wt% ethanol (DE10), and DE10 blended with 50 to 200 ppm surface modified graphene oxide (mGO), i.e., G50, G100, and G200. The fuel lubricity experiment shows that as compared to D100, the DE10 fuel produced 50% larger wear volumes on rubbed balls, while lubrication with the G200 fuel reduced wear by 6%. The tribochemical reaction kinetic model developed in this work unravels the lubrication mechanism. The blended mGO reduces direct metal-to-metal contacts, produces graphitic tribofilms on wear tracks, and serves as tribo-active sources to grow frictional products.

Pore-Scale Simulation of the Interaction between a Single Water Droplet and a Hydrophobic Wire Mesh Screen in Diesel

Recently, the trend towards sustainable energy production and pollution control has motivated the increased consumption of ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD) or bio-fuels. Such fuels have relatively low surface tension with water and therefore, the separation of water from fuel has become a challenging problem. The separation process relies on using porous structures for the collection and removal of water droplets. Hence, understanding the interaction between water droplets and the separators is vital. The simplest geometry of a separator is the wire mesh screen, which is used in many modern water–diesel separators. Thus, it is considered here for systematic study. In this work, pore-scale computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were performed using OpenFOAM® (an open-source C++ toolbox for fluid dynamics simulations) coupled with a new accurate scheme for the computation of the surface tension force. First, two validation test cases were performed and compared to experimental observations in corresponding bubble-point tests. Second, in order to describe the interaction between water droplets and wire mesh screens, the simulations were performed with different parameters: mean diesel velocity, open area ratio, fiber radii, Young–Laplace contact angle, and the droplet radius. New correlations were obtained which describe the average reduction of open surface area (clogging), the pressure drop, and retention criteria.