Combustion and emission characteristics of a diesel engine fuelled with diesel–propane blends

In this paper, the combustion and emission characteristics of a direct injection diesel engine operating on diesel–propane blends were investigated. The results showed that under the same operating condition, the effective thermal efficiency increased with the increase of propane proportion in the blends. Ignition delay and combustion durations of diesel–propane blends were decreased with the increase of propane proportion in the blends. Maximum cylinder pressure, maximum rate of pressure rise, maximum rate of heat release and maximum mean combustion temperature of the diesel–propane blends increased with the increase of propane proportion in the blends. Simultaneous reduction in exhaust CO, HC and smoke emissions could be realized when operating on the diesel–propane blends. Exhaust NO_x emission gave an increasing trend when operating on the diesel–propane blends.     

Experimental-stochastic investigation of the combustion cyclic variability in HSDI diesel engine using ethanol–diesel fuel blends

An experimental investigation is conducted to evaluate the combustion characteristics of a fully instrumented, high-speed, direct injection (HSDI), standard ‘Hydra’ diesel engine, at various loads when using ethanol–diesel fuel blends up to 15% by vol. ethanol. In each test, combustion chamber and fuel injection pressure diagrams of many consecutive cycles were obtained using a specially developed, high-speed, data acquisition and processing system. Following a performance and exhaust emissions investigation and a heat release analysis of the measured cylinder pressure diagrams reported by the authors, the present work focuses on the cycle-by-cycle combustion variation (cyclic variability) as reflected in the pressure indicator diagrams, by analyzing for the maximum pressure, maximum pressure rate, (gross) indicated mean effective pressure, and dynamic injection timing and ignition delay. These parameters were analyzed using stochastic analysis techniques for averages, standard deviations, coefficients of variation, probability density functions, auto-correlations, power spectra and cross-correlation coefficients. Thus, any cause and effect relationship between cyclic pressure variations and the injection system or the kind of fuel used can be revealed, given the concern for the low cetane number of ethanol blends promoting cyclic variability that can lead to degraded performance and emissions characteristics.     

Experimental study on particulate emission of a diesel engine fueled with blended ethanol–dodecanol–diesel

Experiments were conducted on a 4-cylinder direct-injection diesel engine which has a compressing ratio of 19, using ultra low sulfur diesel blended with ethanol using 1–1.5% by volume of 1-dodecanol as the solvent to investigate the particulate emissions of the engine under five engine loads and at engine speeds of 1800 and 2400 rev/min. Blended fuels containing 6.1%, 12.2%, 18.2% and 24.2% by volume of ethanol, corresponding to 2%, 4%, 6% and 8% by mass of oxygen in the blended fuel, were used. At both engine speeds, with an increase in ethanol in the fuel, the smoke opacity, the particulate mass concentration and the total number of nano-size particles are all reduced. A diesel oxidation catalyst (Finnkat) was used and found to further reduce particulate emission. The smoke opacity, the particulate mass concentration and the total number concentration at 2400 rev/min are higher than those at 1800 rev/min.     

Computation of maximum rate of water–sulphuric acid nucleation in diesel exhaust

The origin of nucleation mode observed in the diesel engine exhaust is unclear. In this work, the mechanism of simple classical homogeneous water–sulphuric acid nucleation was studied using the parameterization of Vehkamäki, Kulmala, Lehtinen, and Noppel [2003. Modelling binary homogeneous nucleation of water–sulfuric acid vapours: Parameterisation for high temperature emissions. Environmental Science and Technology, 37, 3392–3398]. In the simple model used, condensation and coagulation were taken into account as sink terms in respective equations. The focus of the study was on the total amount of stable clusters formed, which provides an upper limit for nucleation mode number concentration. It was seen that the nucleation can be achieved even with relatively low sulphuric acid concentrations (of the order of $5\times {10}^{17}{\mathrm{m}}^{-3}$). However, the efficiency depends strongly on the cooling and dilution experienced by the exhaust. According to the results obtained, the assumption of homogeneous sulphuric acid–water nucleation depicted by Vehkamäki parameterization gives physically meaningful results with low-sulphur content fuels if the sulphur-to-sulphuric acid conversion factor is close to 100%. Nonetheless, there are published results of nucleation mode in diesel exhaust which cannot be explained by the sulphuric acid–water mechanism.     

Synthesis and properties of α-methylacrylic acid high-carbon mixed esteras diesel pour point depressant

以α-甲基丙烯酸和马来酸酐为原料,经酯化反应合成了α-甲基丙烯酸高碳混合酯及马来酸酐高碳混合酯,确定了酯化反应条件。采用甲苯作溶剂,通过溶液聚合法合成了α-甲基丙烯酸高碳混合酯-马来酸酐高碳混合酯-乙酸乙烯酯-苯乙烯四元共聚物的柴油降凝剂,确定了最佳反应条件：单体配比1∶2∶3∶1,引发剂（偶氮二异丁腈）用量0.8%,反应温度为85 ℃,反应时间为6 h。考察了该降凝剂对锦州石化公司二套加氢柴油的降凝助滤效果,确定0.07%为降凝剂的最佳添加量。     

A screening study on the activation energy of vanadate‐based catalysts for diesel soot combustion

The activation energy of carbon combustion catalysed by alkali vanadates or alkali vanadates/chlorides mixtures is assessed by the Ozawa method. The most active catalyst, Cs₄V₂O₇, entails more than 50% decrease of the activation energy compared to non‐catalytic combustion (from 157 down to 75 kJ/mol). The catalyst performance is enhanced when the catalyst is dissolved in a eutectic liquid (e.g., AgCl + CsCl), which likely improves the catalyst/carbon contact conditions. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Performance and emission characteristics of an CI engine fueled with diesel–biodiesel–bioethanol blends

The paper presents the experimental results obtained concerning performances and pollution of a diesel engine fueled with diesel–biodiesel–ethanol blends compared with diesel fuel in laboratory tests. The main properties of the researched fuels are presented within this paper, in comparison with classical diesel fuel (chemical composition, density, kinematic viscosity, cold filter plugging point, flash point). Engines’ performances were evaluated by determining the brake specific fuel consumption and brake thermal efficiency. For pollution evaluation the emissions of CO, CO₂, NO_x, HC and smoke have been measured. An increasing of brake specific fuel consumption has been observed, especially at lower engines’ loads, with maximum 32.4%, reducing engine brake thermal efficiency with maximum 21.7%. CO emissions decrease, especially at high loads with maximum 59%, on the basis of CO₂ increased emissions. NO_x emissions slightly increase, especially at partial and high loads, meanwhile HC and smoke emissions decrease in all engines’ load cycles.     

Reduction of lean NO2 with diesel soot over metal-exchanged ZSM5, perovskite and γ-alumina catalysts

The catalytic performances of metal-exchanged ZSM5, perovskite and γ-alumina catalysts for the reduction of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) by diesel soot were investigated. The reaction tests were performed through temperature-programmed reaction (TPR), in which NO₂ and O₂ were passed through a fixed bed of catalyst-soot mixture. On the three types of catalyst, NO₂ was reduced to N₂ by model soot (Printex-U) and most of the soot was converted into CO₂. Pt-, Cu- and Co-exchanged ZSM5 catalysts exhibited reduction activities with conversions of NO₂ into N₂ of about 20%. Among the perovskite catalysts tested, La_0.9K_0.1FeO₃ showed a 32% conversion of NO₂ into N₂. The catalytic activities of the perovskite catalysts were largely influenced by the number and stability of oxygen vacancies. For the γ-alumina catalyst, the peak reduction activity appeared at a relatively high temperature of around 500 °C, but the NO₂ reduction was more effective than the NO reduction, in contrast to the results of the ZSM-5 and perovskite catalysts.     

Kinetic behavior of hydrogenation of aromatics in diesel fuel over silica–alumina-supported bimetallic Pt–Pd catalyst

The kinetics and long-term stability test of the aromatic hydrogenation of diesel fuel were studied on SiO₂–Al₂O₃ supported bimetallic Pt–Pd catalyst. The tests on the influence of operating parameters and kinetics studies were carried out using Pt (0.5 wt.%)–Pd (1.0 wt.%)/SiO₂–Al₂O₃, which provided the highest catalytic activity in a previous paper [Applied Catalysis A: General, 192 (2000) 253] with hydrotreated light cycle oil (LCO)/straight-run light gas oil (SRLGO) feedstocks containing 30 vol.% aromatics/100 wppm sulfur and 34 vol.% aromatics/420 wppm sulfur under numerous conditions. The results on this catalyst obtained at different LHSV showed an excellent fit to first-order kinetics. The apparent activation energy was determined to be 92 kJ/mol. Long-term stability test demonstrated the excellent stability of this catalyst. The products during the long-term stability test are of good quality, with the upgraded color, the increased cetane index, and sufficiently decreased sulfur content.     

On-site low-pressure diesel HDS for fuel cell applications: Deepening the sulfur content to ?1 ppm

This work investigates the feasibility of ultra-deep hydrodesulfurization (i.e. ?1 ppm of sulfur content) of several diesel feedstocks, viz., regular (R), premium (P) and hydrotreated straight-run (HSR) at low pressures, i.e. 10 bar, to lower significantly the operation costs. The premium and regular diesel contain additive packages with several components such as cetane boosters, antioxidants that show to negatively affect the sulfur conversion at low pressures. In the hydrotreated straight-run diesel fuel, which does not contain an additive package, total desulfurization can be obtained at 10 bar, T = 340 °C and LHSV = 1 h⁻¹. As a model for the additive package, FAME (fatty acid methyl ester), an ingredient that encounters the demands of a sustainable future, was added to the hydrotreated straight-run diesel (HSR + FAME) in order to check its influence on the total sulfur conversion. Results show that this biofuel component hindered tremendously the sulfur removal process by lowering the sulfur removal from 98% to zero at 10 bar, probably by competitive adsorption. At higher pressures, e.g. 30 bar, when FAME was present, new sulfur compounds were formed during the HDS process and the effective sulfur removal was very low.     

EXAFS characterization of bimetallic Pt–Pd/SiO2–Al2O3 catalysts for hydrogenation of aromatics in diesel fuel

Bimetallic Pt–Pd/SiO₂–Al₂O₃ catalysts exhibited much higher activities in aromatic hydrogenation of distillates than monometallic Pt/SiO₂–Al₂O₃ and Pd/SiO₂–Al₂O₃ catalysts. The studies of extended X‐ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) indicated that there was an interaction between Pt and Pd in the Pt–Pd/ SiO₂–Al₂O₃ catalyst. Furthermore, from the EXAFS, it was assumed that the active metal particle on the Pt–Pd/SiO₂–Al₂O₃ catalysts is composed of the “Pd dispersed on Pt particle” structure. Regarding both the activities of aromatic hydrogenation and the EXAFS results, it was concluded that the Pd species dispersed on Pt particles were responsible for the high activity of the bimetallic Pt–Pd/SiO₂–Al₂O₃ catalysts. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Mechanism of micro-particle motion across falling liquid cylinder for PM2.5 separation (Ⅱ)Efficiency of PM2.5 separation from heavy-duty diesel exhausts

根据（Ⅰ）报提出的液柱交叉流PM_2.5颗粒附面运动与吸收机理及模型计算方法,设计了以钻井废水吸收钻井柴油机尾气PM_2.5的液柱交叉流吸收现场试验装置。吸收器具有高温绝热蒸发与低温绝热冷凝两个操作空间,柴油机尾气通过绝热蒸发空间降温增湿,携带水蒸气到绝热冷凝空间通过扩散在液柱表面冷凝,形成热泳和扩散双重强化PM_2.5吸收分离机制。模型计算显示该机制下0.01～1.0 μm范围内颗粒粒径与分离效率关系不显著,设计工况下单液柱分离效率1.17%～1.36%。由200排三角形布置的液柱构成的吸收器总体分离效率90%～93%。该过程可同时蒸发废水461.2 kg·h^-1。但颗粒分离效率随蒸发负荷及液柱温度的上升而降低,温升10℃、单液柱分离效率降低60%。现场模型试验装置监测数据与本文模型计算总分离效率基本接近。     

Ultrafine particles from diesel vehicle emissions at different driving cycles induce differential vascular pro-inflammatory responses: Implication of chemical components and NF-κB signaling

Background

Nanometer silicon dioxide (nano-SiO₂) has a wide variety of applications in material sciences, engineering and medicine; however, the potential cell biological and proteomic effects of nano-SiO₂ exposure and the toxic mechanisms remain far from clear.

Results

Here, we evaluated the effects of amorphous nano-SiO₂ (15-nm, 30-nm SiO₂). on cellular viability, cell cycle, apoptosis and protein expression in HaCaT cells by using biochemical and morphological analysis, two-dimensional differential gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) as well as mass spectrometry (MS). We found that the cellular viability of HaCaT cells was significantly decreased in a dose-dependent manner after the treatment of nano-SiO₂ and micro-sized SiO₂ particles. The IC₅₀ value (50% concentration of inhibition) was associated with the size of SiO₂ particles. Exposure to nano-SiO₂ and micro-sized SiO₂ particles also induced apoptosis in HaCaT cells in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the smaller SiO₂ particle size was, the higher apoptotic rate the cells underwent. The proteomic analysis revealed that 16 differentially expressed proteins were induced by SiO₂ exposure, and that the expression levels of the differentially expressed proteins were associated with the particle size. The 16 proteins were identified by MALDI-TOF-TOF-MS analysis and could be classified into 5 categories according to their functions. They include oxidative stress-associated proteins; cytoskeleton-associated proteins; molecular chaperones; energy metabolism-associated proteins; apoptosis and tumor-associated proteins.

Conclusions

These results showed that nano-SiO₂ exposure exerted toxic effects and altered protein expression in HaCaT cells. The data indicated the alterations of the proteins, such as the proteins associated with oxidative stress and apoptosis, could be involved in the toxic mechanisms of nano-SiO₂ exposure.     

Fe-doped LaCoO<Subscript>3</Subscript> perovskite catalyst for NO oxidation in the post-treatment of marine diesel engine’s exhaust emissions

New post-treatment process for marine diesel engine exhaust emissions was proposed by combining NO oxidation and wet scrubbing technology for the simultaneous removal of SO_X, NO_X and PM. NO, insoluble in aqueous scrubbing absorbent, is preferentially oxidized to NO₂, which then turns fully soluble in it. Fe substituted LaCo_1-xFe_xO₃ perovskite catalysts were developed for NO oxidation to NO₂. The catalysts were prepared by co-precipitation method and analyzed with XRD, XRF, BET, FT-IR, NO-TPD and XPS techniques. Crystal structure change from rhombohedral to orthorhombic was observed with the increased amount of Fe substituted in the B site of the perovskite by XRD analysis. From FT-IR and NO-TPD analysis, nitrate on perovskite species was found to be the active species for NO oxidation. Quantitative analysis was performed within the prepared catalysts. Catalytic activity was measured using a packed bed reactor operated at 150–400 °C, atmospheric pressure and with gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) of 20,000 h^-1 using a simulated exhaust gas composed of NO 400 ppm, O₂ 10% balanced with N2. Formation of Fe⁴⁺ cation enhanced the redox property as well as the mobility of the lattice oxygen present in the perovskite catalysts, confirmed by XPS analysis. Reaction mechanism of NO oxidation on Fe substituted LaCo_1-xFe_xO₃ was discussed based on Mars-van Krevelen mechanism.     

Comment on the Nanoparticle Conclusions in Crüts <Emphasis Type="Italic">et al</Emphasis>. (2008), "Exposure to diesel exhaust induces changes in EEG in human volunteers"

A recent publication in this journal reported interesting changes in electroencephalographic (EEG) waves that occurred in 10 young, male volunteers following inhalation for one hour of elevated levels of diesel-engine exhaust fumes [1]. The authors then proposed a chain of causal events that they hypothesized underlay their observed EEG changes. Their reasoning linked the observed results to nanoparticles in diesel-engine exhaust (DEE), and went on to suggest that associations between changes in ambient particulate matter (PM) levels and changes in health statistics might be due to the effects of diesel-engine exhaust (DEE) nanoparticles on EEG. We suggest that the extrapolations of the Crüts et al. EEG findings to casual mechanisms about how ambient levels of DEE particulate might affect electrical signals in the brain, and subsequently to how DEE particulate might alter disease risk, are premature.