The impact of biofuels on engine oil performance

The dilution of biogenic fuels into lubricating engine oils often leads to a shortening of the recommended oil drains (between 30% and 60%) and an increase in wear. The large number of overlapping and influencing factors, of which dilution and polymerization of fuel components in the engine oil are emphasised, makes it difficult to find a uniform solution to prevent failures in the various applications. Insofar single solutions for the different types of biofuels are needed. The contribution of base oil chemistry and additives as well as triboactive materials is featured to deal with the adverse effects of biofuels. In the frame of the European Commission (EC)‐funded project ‘cleanengine’, tentative engine oils based on esters with a content of renewables and polyglycols are formulated to increase the lubricant's tolerance in engines fuelled with biofuel‐based blends, with the aim of ensuring required lubricating and wear protection performance while keeping oil drain intervals unchanged. The present paper focuses on four‐stroke diesel applications, fuelled by biodiesel (fatty acid methyl ester — FAME) as well as by rapeseed oil and Jatropha oil (pure vegetable oils, triglycerides), together with relevant blends of those biofuels and conventional diesel fuel. This paper screens the functional profile (in particular rheological, toxicological, bio‐compatibility, tribological and biofuels affinity) of lube families with respect to biofuel contamination. Moreover, this is followed by the contributions of piston ring and liner materials as well as thin film coatings. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Demonstrating Improved Fuel Economy Using Subsystem Specific Lubricants on a Modified Diesel Engine

Fuel economy performance in modern internal combustion engines is of increasing importance to lubricant formulators due to regulations targeting global greenhouse gas emissions. Engines typically employ a single lubricant, with a common sump, to service all components. As a result, base oil and additive selection for fuel economy performance is a compromise among competing demands for different engine subsystems. Opportunities for significant fuel economy improvement through targeted formulation of lubricants for specific engine subsystems are presented, with specific emphasis on segregating the lubricant supplies for the valve train and the power cylinder subsystems. A working prototype was developed in a lab environment by modifying a commercially available twin-cylinder diesel engine. Motored valve train and whole-engine fired test results were obtained and compared to model data. Fuel economy benefits were demonstrated using market representative heavy-duty diesel lubricants, including mineral oil and polyalphaolefin (PAO) blends. The fuel economy benefits of a dual-loop lubricant system are demonstrated through significant viscosity reduction in the power cylinder subsystem, achieving overall engine friction reductions of up to 8% for the investigated operating condition. Results suggest that additional gains may be realized through targeted base oil and additive formulation. Implications for incorporation in larger diesel engines are also considered.     

Pretreatment methods to improve the kinematic viscosity of biodiesel for use in power tiller engines

Biodiesel is an environmentally friendly fuel that can replace diesel in compression ignition engines without changing the engine structure. Biodiesel is typically manufactured from vegetable oils and animal fats, which give the fuel its oxidation stability and cold-flow properties, respectively. However, the kinematic viscosity of biodiesel can cause engine performance problems such as incomplete combustion and sludge formation due to insufficient fuel atomization. To address these problems, in this study, a pretreatment technology that lowers the kinematic viscosity of biodiesel made from blended animal fat and vegetable oil was developed. The results of application of the pretreated fuel to a single-cylinder power tiller engine indicated that it produced 88.3–99.8 % of the brake power produced by conventional diesel. In addition, although the pretreated biodiesel exhaust included increased amounts of nitrogen oxides and carbon dioxide emissions, the proposed fuel also decreased the amounts of hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions compared with conventional diesel emissions.

     

Valvetrain Friction and Wear Performance of Polyalkylene Glycol Engine Oils

The application of polyalkylene glycol (PAG) as a base stock for engine oil formulation has been explored for substantial fuel economy gains over traditional formulations with mineral oils. Various PAG chemistries were explored by varying the feedstock material. All but one formulation have the same additive package. The friction performance of these oils was evaluated in a motored valvetrain rig with current production engine hardware in the temperature range 40–100°C and in the speed range 300–2,500 rpm. PAG formulations showed up to 48% friction reduction over GF-5 SAE 5W-20 oil depending on temperature, speed, and oil chemistry. The wear protection capability was evaluated using a radiotracer technique on another motored valvetrain rig where only one cam lobe rotated against a bucket tappet. The wear trend of some PAG oils was equal to or better than that of GF-5 SAE 5W-20 oil, whereas others showed high initial wear. The wear rate of the PAG oils was not significantly different from that of GF-5 oil. The bucket tappet surfaces were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, auger electron spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy to characterize the tribofilm formed and to help explain the friction and wear performance.     

Alternative and low sulfur fuel options: boundary lubrication performance and potential problems

Studies of alternative fuels at Penn State include biodiesel, dimethyl ether (DME) and low sulfur diesel fuels. The fuel studies include bench tests, laboratory engine tests and vehicle tests. DME was evaluated in a campus shuttle bus operating on its regular campus route. A 25:75 vol% mixture of DME and diesel fuel was used. Laboratory engine tests of oxygenated fuels, including biodiesel, resulted in significant particulate reductions. However, some alternative fuels exhibit low lubricity. Bench tests comparing friction and wear characteristics of the fuels are described.     

The influence of engine oil on diesel exhaust emissions

Increasingly stringent emission legislation, together with the requirements for improved diesel engine performance, such as fuel economy, friction reduction, and extended drain intervals, have led to attention being focused on engine oil quality. The use of low‐friction engine oils can improve engine fuel efficiency and lead to a significant reduction of gaseous emissions. Therefore, engine oil is of importance when considering engine design parameters. This paper describes a study of the contribution of engine oil to diesel exhaust emissions. The investigations have shown that diesel engine particulate emissions as well as hydrocarbons and NO_X emissions depend on the lubricant oil properties, in particular on the sulphur content, volatility, and metal content.     

Effects of refined palm oil (RPO) fuel on wear of diesel engine components

In this particular research work, the effects of refined palm oil (RPO), as alternative fuel, on wear of diesel engine components are assessed. Fleet testing is carried for the qualifying candidates diesel fuel replacement, i.e. 100% RPO fuel or 50% RPO and 50% conventional diesel fuel mixture. The base line of the fleet testing is using pure conventional petroleum diesel fuel as an energy source in one of the tested vehicles in the fleet. Analysis of used engine lubrication oil, taken when the oil was changed on the vehicles, was compared to the analysis of used oil samples pulled from 100% diesel fuel engines. The finding suggested that the pure RPO and RPO blended fueled engines were wearing at a normal rate.     

Effect of antioxidants on the oxidative stability and combustion characteristics of biodiesel fuels in an indirect-injection (IDI) diesel engine

Biodiesel fuels that consist of saturated and unsaturated long-chain fatty acid alkyl esters are an alternative diesel fuel produced from vegetable oils or animal fats. However, autoxidation of biodiesel fuels during storage is easily caused by air, reducing fuel quality by adversely affecting its properties such as kinematic viscosity and acid value. One approach to improve the resistance of biodiesel fuels to autoxidation is to mix them with antioxidants. This study investigated the effectiveness of five such antioxidants in mixtures with biodiesel fuels produced by three biodiesel manufacturers: butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), propyl gallate (PrG) and α-tocopherol. An engine test was also performed to investigate the combustion characteristics of biodiesel fuel with antioxidants in an indirect-injection (IDI) diesel engine. Oxidation stability was determined using Rancimat equipment. The results showed that TBHQ, BHA, and BHT were the most effective and α-tocopherol was the least effective in increasing the oxidation stability of biodiesel. The combustion characteristics and exhaust emissions in diesel engine were not influenced by the addition of antioxidants in biodiesel fuel. This study recommends TBHQ and PrG to be used for safeguarding biodiesel fuel from the effects of autoxidation during storage.     

发动机燃用生物柴油的颗粒可溶有机组分及多环芳烃排放

以一台车用柴油机为样机,研究发动机燃用生物柴油的常规排放,重点探讨其颗粒(Particulate matter,PM)、可溶有机组分(Soluble organic fraction,SOF)及多环芳烃(Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons,PAHs)的排放特性。所用燃油分别为柴油、生物柴油掺混配比为10%的B10燃油。结果表明,与柴油相比,该车用柴油机燃用B10燃油后颗粒、SOF和PAHs的质量排放均有所降低;NOx排放略有增加,HC和CO排放有所下降。B10燃油燃烧的颗粒SOF中醇类、酮类、醚类质量分数下降;脂类、酸类、醛类质量分数上升。在检测到的12种PAHs中,B10燃油有10种质量排放减少,尤其是苯并(a)芘等高环数致癌性的PAHs降幅明显,这表明发动机燃用生物柴油后,排气颗粒的化学成分毒性有所降低。     

以汽油和甲醇为燃料时小型二冲程发动机摩擦特性比较

采用往复振动机模拟小型二冲程发动机运转工况，实验研究汽油和甲醇为燃料时发动机气缸和活塞环间的摩擦特性，并比较分别使用润滑油新油、润滑油老化油、润滑油新油和老化油的混合油作为润滑油时气缸和活塞环间的摩擦特性。结果表明，以甲醇为燃料时的摩擦因数和磨损量均小于以汽油为燃料时的摩擦因数和磨损量，特别是使用添加了润滑油新油的燃料时的摩擦因数和磨损量最小。通过黏度和热重（TG）分析，探讨甲醇燃料改善气缸和活塞环间的摩擦特性的原因，结果表明，甲醇燃料具有较高的黏度和较低的摩擦因数，因而以甲醇为燃料时可以降低磨损     

Fluorinated FeF3 catalyst interactions in three different oil formulations using design of experiment optimization and chemistry characterization of tribofilms

The influence of fluorinated FeF₃ catalyst on the formation and properties of tribofilms was examined using design of experiment (DOE) under extreme boundary lubrication (385 N or maximum Hertzian contact pressure of 2.72 GPa). A closed loop boundary condition test was developed to examine the behaviour of lubricants under boundary conditions. The reduction of phosphorus in engine oil was examined using two different plain oils and one fully formulated oil. Results indicate the formation of a thicker tribofilm in plain fluorinated oil when compared with fluorinated fully formulated oils. Several chemistry combinations were prepared and tested. Wear and frictional properties were evaluated using DOE, and the interactions of fluorinated FeF₃ catalyst with minimum phosphorus were studied and compared with respect to fully formulated and plain zinc dialkyl dithiophosphate oils. Tribofilms with thickness ranging from 150 to 350 nm were developed during wear tests and were analysed for fluorinated plain and fully formulated oils that target reducing phosphorus. Three specific tests with optimised 0.6% FeF₃ catalyst concentrations were used with 0.05% phosphorus in plain and fully formulated oil to verify the model optimised conditions with respect to wear and time to full break down. Scanning electron microscopy, hardness of the tribofilms and Auger spectroscopy confirm the presence of fluorine and phosphorus. These tests confirm the optimised prediction of the DOE model. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Analysis of Tribological Properties of Palm Biodiesel and Oxidized Biodiesel Blends

Biodiesel has become an increasingly significant alternative fuel to replace conventional diesel completely or partially. Although biodiesel has several advantages, such as environmental friendliness, renewability, and reduced emissions, it also has major drawbacks. Tribology is one of the major concerns for biodiesel usage, in which biodiesel lubricity deteriorates by usage and/or by storage because of its oxidative nature. The present study aims to investigate the lubrication behavior of oxidized and pure palm biodiesel blends by using a four-ball tribotester machine. Tests were carried out in diesel, pure biodiesel (B100), their blends (B10 [10% biodiesel in diesel], B20, B30, and B50), and oxidized biodiesel (Oxd B100) and its blends (Oxd B10, Oxd B20, Oxd B30, and Oxd B50). Tests were conducted at room temperature under a normal load of 40 kg for 1 h at 1,200 rpm. Surface analyses were carried out by scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectrometry, and optical microscopy, and fuel analysis was performed by gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy. Diesel fuel showed the highest wear and friction. Surface deformation, wear, and friction decreased as the biodiesel concentration increased in the blend. Oxidized biodiesel blends showed improved lubricity compared to pure biodiesel and blends. However, Oxd B100 showed higher wear than Oxd B50.     

An experimental study on the performance and emission characteristics of a CI engine fuelled with Jatropha biodiesel and its blends with diesel

The performance and emission characteristics of a compression ignition engine using mixture of jatropha biodiesel and mineral diesel have been experimentally investigated. It is observed that brake specific fuel consumption increases with higher percentage of biodiesel in the blends. Brake thermal efficiency decreases with the increased percentage of biodiesel in the blends. The maximum efficiency is found to be 29.6% with pure diesel and 21.2% with pure biodiesel. Carbon mono-oxide and hydrocarbon emissions are improved with the addition of biodiesel to diesel. NO_x emission is found to be increased with pure biodiesel by 24% compared to mineral diesel.     

Role of thermal,mechanical and oxidising treatment on structure and chemistry of carbon black and its impact on wear and friction: Part 2 – Boundary lubrication condition

Mineral oil formulations with zinc dialkyl dithiophosphate (ZDDP) and dispersant (poly isobutylene succinimide ashless dispersant or ‘PIBSA’) and fully formulated oils with and without carbon black were subjected to thermal and mechanical treatment and tribologically tested on TE 77 (high frequency reciprocating rig or ‘HFRR’) machine to examine the frictional performance during the test. These results were compared to oils without carbon black and oils with diesel soot. Results indicate that oils with just ZDDP and dispersant had the highest friction that remains constant for the duration of the test while oils with carbon black in the milled and oxidised condition had the lowest coefficient of friction and the smallest surface roughness in the tribofilm. The mechanism of wear with treated carbon black and diesel soot was found to be polishing wear as evidenced by the scanning probe microscopy images of the tribofilms. Tribofilms were analysed with X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) and it was seen that oils without carbon black or even with untreated carbon black had sulphates at the surface, while the oils with carbon black that were treated had a higher proportion of sulphides. A combination of both FeS and ZnS was found in the tribofilms along with short chain phosphates of Zn.     

Effect of palm oil methyl ester and its emulsions on lubricant degradation and engine component wear

This paper presents the results of experimental work carried out to evaluate the effect of palm oil methyl ester also known as palm oil diesel (POD) and its emulsions, as alternative fuels, on unmodified indirect‐injection diesel engine wear and lubricant oil deterioration compared with ordinary diesel (OD). A constant 2500 rpm engine setting at half throttle was maintained throughout the wear debris and lubricant oil analysis period for 20 h for each fuel system. Samples of lubricant oil were collected through a one‐way valve connected to the crankcase sump at intervals of 4 h. The first sample was collected immediately after the engine had warmed up. The same lubricating oil, a conventional SAE 30, was used for all experiments. A multi‐element oil analyser was used to measure metal wear debris and lubricating oil additive depletion for the used lubricating oil. An ISL automatic houillon viscometer (ASTM D 445) and potentiometric titration (ASTM D 2896) were used to measure the viscosity and total base number, respectively. The lubricant oil analysis results for POD, OD, and their emulsions containing 10% water by volume were compared. Very promising results were obtained. The accumulation of metal wear debris in crankcase oil samples was lower with POD and its emulsion compared with the OD fuel. The addition of 10% water (by volume) to POD showed a promising tendency for wear resistance.     

Performance and emission studies on an agriculture engine on neat Jatropha oil

Diesel engines have proven their utility in the transportation, agriculture, and power sectors in India. They are also potential sources of decentralized energy generation for rural electrification. Concerns on the long-term availability of petroleum diesel and the stringent environmental norms have mandated the search for a renewable alternative to diesel fuel to address these problems. Vegetable oils have been considered good alternatives to diesel in the past couple of years. However, there are many issues related to the use of vegetable oils in diesel engine. Jatropha curcas has been promoted in India as a sustainable substitute to diesel fuel. This study aims to develop a dual fuel engine test rig for evaluating the potential suitability of Jatropha oil as diesel fuel and for determining the performance and emission characteristics of an engine with Jatropha oil. The experimental results suggest that engine performance using Jatropha oil is slightly inferior to that of diesel fuel. The thermal efficiency of the engine was lower, while the brake-specific fuel consumption was higher with Jatropha oil compared with diesel fuel. The levels of nitrogen oxides (NOx) from Jatropha oil during the entire duration of the experiment were lower than those of diesel fuel. The reduction of NOx was found to be an important characteristic of Jatropha oil as NOx emission is the most harmful gaseous emission from engines; as such, its reduction is always the goal of engine researchers and makers. During the entire experiment, carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbon (HC), and carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions in the case of using Jatropha oil were higher than when diesel fuel was used. The higher density and viscosity of Jatropha oil causes lower thermal efficiency and higher brakespecific fuel consumption. The performance and emission characteristics found in this study are significant for the study of replacing diesel fuel from fossils with Jatropha oil in rural India, where the availability of diesel has always been a problem.     

Combustion characteristics of an agricultural diesel engine using biodiesel fuel

Biodiesel has great potential as an alternative fuel for diesel engines that would reduce air pollution. It is a domestically produced, renewable fuel that can be manufactured from fresh or used vegetable oils, or from animal fats. In this study, a biodiesel fuel derived from rice bran oil was tested as an alternative fuel for agricultural diesel engines. The emissions were characterized for both neat and blended biodiesel fuels, and for conventional diesel fuel. Since this biodiesel fuel contained 11% oxygen, it strongly influenced the combustion process. The use of biodiesel fuel resulted in lower carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and smoke emissions, without any increase in nitrous oxide emissions. The study demonstrated that biodiesel fuel could be effectively used as a renewable and environmentally innocuous fuel for agricultural diesel engines.     

Wear and frictional performance of polymeric composites aged in various solutions

The aim of the present work is to investigate the effect of aging process on the wear and frictional characteristics of polyester composites based on oil palm fibres. Prepared samples of treated oil palm fibre reinforced polyester (T-OPRP) composite were immersed in different types of solutions (i.e. water, salt water, diesel, petrol and engine oil) for three years. The samples were then tested on a Pin on disc (POD) machine subjected to a polished stainless steel counterface under dry adhesive wear at different sliding distances (0-6.72 km). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to observe the damage features on the worn surfaces. Results revealed that aging process has pronounced influence on the adhesive wear and frictional behaviour of the T-OPRP composite. Immersing the samples in water and salt water demonstrated poorest wear performance as compared to the ones immersed in engine oil and diesel. This was mainly due to the higher viscosities of engine oil and diesel solutions as compared to the rest.     

Effect of Reciprocation Frequency on Friction and Wear of Vibrating Contacts Lubricated with Soybean-Based B100 Biodiesel

The use of renewable, bio-based fuels has become increasingly widespread in recent years, with a major example being biodiesel, a bio-derived alternative to Number 2 diesel fuel. The increased usage of biodiesel gives rise to an augmented need to understand its tribological effects on critical engine components. This study focused on determining the tribological performance of soybean-based B100 (i.e., pure) biodiesel within a fuel injector with varying oscillating frequency by performing a series of linear reciprocating tribological tests of biodiesel-lubricated interfaces with varying reciprocating frequency. Comparison of friction coefficient variation with reciprocating frequency indicated a transition from boundary lubrication to hydrodynamic lubrication as the frequency increased, while hysteresis loop and energy loss observations showed a transition between full stick and partial slip contact with increasing frequency. However, observations of induced wear showed the wear to increase with increasing frequency, most likely due to the augmented number of sliding cycles as well as an increased degree of interfacial slip.     

用SRV试验机评价柴油机油摩擦磨损性能

采用SRV 4型摩擦磨损试验机为试验平台,以某商用车公司提供的发动机缸套-活塞环截取件作为摩擦副试验件,以15W-40 CF-4和15W-40 CI-4发动机油为润滑介质,建立评价柴油机油摩擦磨损性能的模拟试验方法,并使用该方法对油品配方中减摩剂的区分性及不同材质活塞环与润滑油的适配性等进行考察。试验结果表明:建立的模拟试验方法能较好地区分出具有优异抗磨性能的柴油机油,同样对油品配方中减摩剂和不同材质活塞环与润滑油适配性等有着较好的区分性,可以作为润滑油品开发者和OEM汽车厂家对油品配方开发和摩擦副材质筛选的模拟评价手段。