Experimental investigation of the effects of diesel-like fuel obtained from waste lubrication oil on engine performance and exhaust emission

In this study, effects of diesel-like fuel (DLF) on engine performance and exhaust emission are investigated experimentally. The DLF is produced from waste engine lubrication oil purified from dust, heavy carbon soot, metal particles, gum-type materials and other impurities. A fuel production system mainly consisting of a waste oil storage tank, filters, a reactor, oil pump, a product storage tank, thermostats and control panel is designed and manufactured. The DLF is produced by using the system and applying pyrolitic distillation method. Characteristics, performance and exhaust emissions tests of the produced DLF are carried out at the end of the production. The characteristic tests such as density, viscosity, flash point, heating value, sulfur content and distillation of the DLF sample are performed utilizing test equipments presented in motor laboratory of Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Gaziantep, Turkey. Performance and exhaust emission tests for the DLF are performed using diesel test engine. It is observed from the test results that about 60 cc out of each 100 cc of the waste oil are converted into the DLF. Characteristics and distillation temperatures of the DLF are close to those values of a typical diesel fuel sample. It is observed that the produced DLF can be used in diesel engines without any problem in terms of engine performance. The DLF increases torque, brake mean effective pressure, brake thermal efficiency and decreases brake specific fuel consumption of the engine for full power of operation.     

An experimental investigation on a DI diesel engine using waste plastic oil with exhaust gas recirculation

Environmental degradation and depleting oil reserves are matters of great concern around the globe. Developing countries like India depend heavily on oil import of about 125 Mt per annum (7:1 diesel/gasoline). Diesel being the main transport fuel in India, finding a suitable alternative to diesel is an urgent need. In this context, waste plastic solid is currently receiving renewed interest. Waste plastic oil is suitable for compression ignition engines and more attention is focused in India because of its potential to generate large-scale employment and relatively low environmental degradation. The present investigation was to study the effect of cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) on four stroke, single cylinder, direct injection (DI) diesel engine using 100% waste plastic oil. Experimental results showed higher oxides of nitrogen emissions when fueled with waste plastic oil without EGR. NO_x emissions were reduced when the engine was operated with cooled EGR. The EGR level was optimized as 20% based on significant reduction in NO_x emissions, minimum possible smoke, CO, HC emissions and comparable brake thermal efficiency. Smoke emissions of waste plastic oil were higher at all loads. Combustion parameters were found to be comparable with and without EGR. Compression ignition engines run on waste plastic oil are found to emit higher oxides of nitrogen.     

Investigation of purified sulfate turpentine on engine performance and exhaust emission

This study deals with an experimental work that aims to examine effects of purified sulfate turpentine obtained from a kraft pulp mill in Turkey on an engine performance and exhaust emissions of a spark ignition engine. Three fuel samples are used to test the performance and emission of a 1300 cc engine manufactured by TOFA?. They are pure gasoline with 98-octane number and two other gasoline-turpentine fuel samples obtained by blending gasoline with turpentine in ratios of 5% and 10% on basis of total mass of the fuel. The thermophysical properties of the fuels are acquired by density, viscosity, flash and fire points, sulphur content, heating value and distillation tests. The experimental results showed that the turpentine has a positive effect on the engine performance parameters, such as brake power, thermal efficiency, mean effective pressure and specific fuel consumption. The turpentine also increases pollutant NO_x, unburned hydrocarbon contents and exhaust temperature, but it decreases CO concentration in the exhaust. It is observed that utilization of the sulfate turpentine alone is not viable and it needs to be used as an additive into gasoline to some extent, thereby providing a viable alternative to pure gasoline.     

Experimental investigation on the combustion and exhaust emission characteristics of biogas-biodiesel dual-fuel combustion in a CI engine

An experimental investigation was performed to study the influence of dual-fuel combustion characteristics on the exhaust emissions and combustion performance in a diesel engine fueled with biogas-biodiesel dual-fuel. In this work, the combustion pressure and the rate of heat release were evaluated under various conditions in order to analyze the combustion and emission characteristics for single-fuel (diesel and biodiesel) and dual-fuel (biogas-diesel and biogas-biodiesel) combustion modes in a diesel engine. In addition, to compare the engine performances and exhaust emission characteristics with combustion mode, fuel consumption, exhaust gas temperature, efficiency, and exhaust emissions were also investigated under various test conditions. For the dual-fuel system, the intake system of the test engine was modified to convert into biogas and biodiesel of a dual-fueled combustion engine. Biogas was injected during the intake process by two electronically controlled gas injectors, which were installed in the intake pipe.The results of this study showed that the combustion characteristics of single-fuel combustion for biodiesel and diesel indicated the similar patterns at various engine loads. In dual-fuel mode, the peak pressure and heat release for biogas-biodiesel were slightly lower compared to biogas-diesel at low load. At 60% load, biogas-biodiesel combustion exhibited the slightly higher peak pressure, rate of heat release (ROHR) and indicated mean effective pressure (IMEP) than those of diesel. Also, the ignition delay for biogas-biodiesel indicated shortened trends compared to ULSD dual-fueling due to the higher cetane number (CN) of biodiesel. Significantly lower NO_x emissions were emitted under dual-fuel operation for both cases of pilot fuels compared to single-fuel mode at all engine load conditions. Also, biogas-biodiesel provided superior performance in reductions of soot emissions due to the absence of aromatics, the low sulfur, and oxygen contents for biodiesel.     

Effects of volumetric efficiency on the performance and emissions characteristics of a dual fueled (gasoline and LPG) spark ignition engine

In this study, effects of variation in volumetric efficiency on the engine emissions characteristics with different LPG usage levels (25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%), on an engine operated with new generation closed loop, multi-point, and sequential gas injection system were investigated. For this purpose, experiments were carried out under constant engine speed (3800 rpm) and different load (5%, 30%, 60%, 90%) conditions. The variations in volumetric efficiency, air-fuel ratio, brake thermal efficiency, brake specific fuel consumption, brake specific energy consumption, and exhaust gasses were examined. The volumetric efficiency decreased considerably at the use of 25% LPG level. As for the 50%, 75% and 100% LPG usage, volumetric efficiency decreased in proportion to LPG usage level. Air-fuel ratio decreases with the increase in LPG usage level and the minimum air-fuel ratio value was obtained at 100% LPG usage. At the use of mixture containing 25% LPG, brake specific fuel and energy consumption decreased while the brake thermal efficiency was maintained. Positive results were obtained at all LPG usage levels in terms of exhaust emissions. Best results were achieved at using 100% LPG for exhaust emissions.     

Experimental study of the effects of vegetable oil methyl ester on DI diesel engine performance characteristics and pollutant emissions

Vegetable oil methyl ester (VOME) is produced through the transesterification of vegetable oil and can be used as biodiesel in diesel engines as a renewable, nontoxic, and potentially environmentally friendly fossil fuel alternative in light of growing concerns regarding global warming and increasing oil prices. This study used VOME fuels produced from eight commonly seen oil bases to conduct a series of engine tests to investigate the effects of VOME on the engine performance, exhaust emissions, and combustion characteristics. The experimental results showed that using VOME in an unmodified direct injection (DI) diesel engine yielded a higher brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) due to the VOME fuel’s lower calorific value. The high cetane number of VOME also imparted a better ignition quality and the high intrinsic oxygen content advanced the combustion process. The earlier start of combustion and the rapid combustion rate led to a drastic increase in the heat release rate (HRR) and the in-cylinder combustion pressure (ICCP) during the premixed combustion phase. A higher combustion rate resulted in higher peaks of HRR and ICCP as well as near the top dead center (TDC) position. Thus, it was found that a diesel engine fueled with VOME could potentially produce the same engine power as one fueled with petroleum diesel (PD), but with a reduction in the exhaust gas temperature (EGT), smoke and total hydrocarbon (THC) emissions, albeit with a slight increase in nitrogen oxides (NO_x) emissions. In addition, the VOME which possesses shorter carbon chains, more saturated bonds, and a higher oxygen content also yields a lower EGT as well as reduced smoke, NO_x, and THC emissions. However, this is obtained at the detriment of an increased BSFC.     

A rapid test to measure performance,emission and wear of a diesel engine fueled with palm oil diesel

Results of performance, emission and tribological evaluations of palm oil methyl ester and its blends with conventional diesel in an automobile diesel engine test bed are presented. Polymerization and carbon deposits on the fuel injector were monitored. CO, CO₂, O₂, combustion efficiency and temperature of exhaust gases were also measured. Palm oil methyl ester and its blends have great potential as alternative diesel fuel. Performance and exhaust gas emission for palm oil methyl ester and its blends with conventional diesel are comparable with those of conventional diesel fuel. Palm oil methyl ester does not pose a severe environmental problem and will not deteriorate engine and bearing components.     

Biodiesel production from waste cooking oil via alkali catalyst and its engine test

Waste cooking oils (WCO), which contain large amounts of free fatty acids produced in restaurants, are collected by the environmental protection agency in the main cities of China and should be disposed in a suitable way. Biodiesel production from WCO was studied in this paper through experimental investigation of reaction conditions such as methanol/oil molar ratio, alkaline catalyst amount, reaction time and reaction temperature which are deemed to have main impact on reaction conversion efficiency. Experiments have been performed to determine the optimum conditions for this transesterification process by orthogonal analysis of parameters in a four-factor and three-level test. The optimum experimental conditions, which were obtained from the orthogonal test, were methanol/oil molar ratio 9:1, with 1.0 wt.% sodium hydroxide, temperature of 50 °C and 90 min. Verified experiments showed methanol/oil molar ratio 6:1 was more suitable in the process, and under that condition WCO conversion efficiency led to 89.8% and the physical and chemical properties of biodiesel sample satisfied the requirement of relevant international standards. After the analysis main characteristics of biodiese sample, the impact of biodiesel/diesel blend fuels on an YC6M220G turbo-charge diesel engine exhaust emissions was evaluated compared with 0# diesel. The testing results show without any modification to diesel engine, under all conditions dynamical performance kept normal, and the B20, B50 blend fuels (include 20%, 50% crude biodiesel respectively) led to unsatisfactory emissions whilst the B′20 blend fuel (include 20% refined biodiesel) reduced significantly particles, HC and CO etc. emissions. For example CO, HC and particles were reduced by 18.6%, 26.7% and 20.58%, respectively.     

Engine performance and exhaust gas emissions of methanol and ethanol-diesel blends

In this study, the effects of methanol-diesel (M5, M10) and ethanol-diesel (E5, E10) fuel blends on the performance and exhaust emissions were experimentally investigated. For this work, a single cylinder, four-stroke, direct injection, naturally aspirated diesel engine was used. The tests were performed by varying the engine speed between 1000 and 1800 rpm while keeping the engine torque at 30 Nm. The results showed that brake specific fuel consumption and emissions of nitrogen oxides increased while brake thermal efficiency, smoke opacity, emissions of carbon monoxide and total hydrocarbon decreased with methanol-diesel and ethanol-diesel fuel blends.     

An analysis for effect of cetane number on exhaust emissions from engine with the neural network

Decoupling cetane number from the other compositions and properties of diesel fuel, the individual effect of cetane number on the exhaust emissions from an engine may be researched. This paper has presented a back-propagation neural network model predicting the exhaust emissions from an engine with the inputs of total cetane number, base cetane number and cetane improver, total cetane number and nitrogen content in the diesel fuel; as well as the output of the exhaust emissions of hydrocarbon (HC), carbon oxide (CO), particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen oxide (NO_x). An optimal design has been completed for the number of hidden layers, the number of hidden neurons, the activation function, and the goal errors, along with the initial weights and biases in the back-propagation neural network model. HC, CO, PM and NO_x have been predicted with the model, the effects of cetane improver and nitrogen content on them have also been analyzed, and better results have been achieved.     

Influence of ethanol blends on the combustion performance and exhaust emission characteristics of a four-cylinder diesel engine at various engine loads and injection timings

The aim of this work is to investigate the effect of ethanol blending to diesel fuel on the combustion and exhaust emission characteristics of a four-cylinder diesel engine with a common-rail injection system. The overall spray characteristics, such as the spray tip penetration and the spray cone angle, were studied with respect to the ethanol blending ratio. A spray visualization system and a four-cylinder diesel engine equipped with a combustion and emission analyzer were utilized so as to analyze the spray and exhaust emission characteristics of the ethanol blending diesel fuel. Ethanol blended diesel fuel has a shorter spray tip penetration when compared to pure diesel fuel. In addition, the spray cone angle of ethanol blended fuels is larger. It is believed that the lower fuel density of ethanol blended fuels affects the spray characteristics. When the ethanol blended fuels are injected around top dead center (TDC), they exhibit unstable ignition characteristics because the higher ethanol blending ratio causes a long ignition delay. An advance in the injection timing also induces an increase in the combustion pressure due to the sufficient premixed duration. In a four-cylinder diesel engine, an increase in the ethanol blending ratio leads to a decrease in NO_x emissions due to the high heat of evaporation of ethanol fuel, however, CO and HC emissions increase. In addition, the CO and HC emissions exhibit a decreasing trend according to an increase in the engine load and an advance in the injection timing.     

Experimental investigation of diesel engine performance and emission characteristics using jojoba/diesel blend and sunflower oil

Experimental study has been carried out to investigate performance parameters, emissions, cylinder pressure, exhaust gas temperature (T_exhaust) and engine wall temperatures (T_wall) for direct injection diesel engine. Tests were conducted for sunflower oil (S100) and 20% jojoba oil + 80% pure diesel fuel (B20) in comparison to pure diesel fuel with different engine speeds. S100 and B20 were selected for the study because of its being widely used in Egypt and in the world. Also, series of tests are conducted at same previous conditions with different percentage of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) from 0% to 12% of inlet mass of air fresh charge. Results indicate that S100 or B20 gives lower brake thermal efficiency (η_B), brake power (BP), brake mean effective pressure (BMEP), and higher brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) due to lower heating value compared to pure diesel fuel. S100 or B20 gives lower NO_X concentration due to lower gas temperature. S100 or B20 gives higher T_wall and T_exhaust due to incomplete combustion inside engine cylinder. S100 or B20 gives higher CO and CO₂ concentrations due to higher carbon/hydrogen ratio. The position of maximum pressure (P_max) change for pure diesel fuel is earlier than for S100 or B20. The results show that S100 or B20 are promising as alternative fuel for diesel engine. The utilization of vegetable oils does not require a significant modification of existing engines. This can be seen as the main advantage of vegetable oils. The main disadvantages of biodiesel fuels are high viscosity, drying with time, thickening in cold conditions, flow and atomization characteristics.     

聚丙烯塑料及其废料裂解制燃料油的研究

选取聚丙烯及其废料为原料,系统地探讨了温度和催化剂等因素对塑料裂解制汽油和柴油的影响。使用自制改性的ZSM-5型分子筛催化剂,在优化条件下制得了占原料质量分数为70%~80%的燃料油,其中汽油含量达燃料油质量分数的40%~50%。     

Comparative performance and emissions of IDI-turbo automobile diesel engine operated using degummed, deacidified mixed crude palm oil-diesel blends

The performance and emissions of an indirect injection (IDI)-turbo automobile diesel engine operated with diesel and blends of degummed-deacidified mixed crude palm oil in diesel at portions of 20, 30, and 40 vol.% are examined and compared at various loads and speeds. Although fuel properties of the tested blends do not exactly meet all regulations of Thailand, they are all able to operate the engine. Comparing this with diesel, especially at full loads, shows that all blends produce the same maximum brake torque and power. A higher blending portion results in a little higher brake specific fuel consumption (+4.3% to +7.6%), a slightly lower brake thermal efficiency (-3.0% to -5.2%), a slightly lower exhaust gas temperature (−2.7% to −3.4%), and a significantly lower amount of black smoke (−30% to −45%). The level of carbon monoxide from the 20 vol.% blend is significantly lower (−70%), and the levels of nitrogen oxides from all blends are little higher.     

Biodiesel from safflower oil and its application in a diesel engine

Safflower seed oil was chemically treated by the transesterification reaction in methyl alcohol environment with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) to produce biodiesel. The produced biodiesel was blended with diesel fuel by 5% (B5), 20% (B20) and 50% (B50) volumetrically. Some of important physical and chemical fuel properties of blend fuels, pure biodiesel and diesel fuel were determined. Performance and emission tests were carried out on a single cylinder diesel engine to compare biodiesel blends with petroleum diesel fuel. Average performance reductions were found as 2.2%, 6.3% and 11.2% for B5, B20 and B50 fuels, respectively, in comparison to diesel fuel. These reductions are low and can be compensated by a slight increase in brake specific fuel consumption (Bsfc). For blends, Bsfcs were increased by 2.8%, 3.9% and 7.8% as average for B5, B20 and B50, respectively. Considerable reductions were recorded in PM and smoke emissions with the use of biodiesel. CO emissions also decreased for biodiesel blends while NO_x and HC emissions increased. But the increases in HC emissions can be neglected as they have very low amounts for all test fuels. It can be concluded that the use of safflower oil biodiesel has beneficial effects both in terms of emission reductions and alternative petroleum diesel fuel.     

Fuel production from waste vehicle tires by catalytic pyrolysis and its application in a diesel engine

An alternative fuel production was performed by pyrolysis of waste vehicle tires under nitrogen (N₂) environment and with calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)₂) as catalyst. The sulfur content of liquids obtained were reduced by using Ca(OH)₂. The liquid fuel of waste vehicle tires(TF) was then used in a diesel engine to blend with petroleum diesel fuel by 5%(TF5), 10%(TF10), 15%(TF15), 25%(TF25), 35%(TF35), 50%(TF50), and 75%(TF75) wt. and pure (TF100). Performance characteristics such as engine power, engine torque, brake specific fuel consumption (bsfc) and exhaust temperature and emission parameters such as oxides of nitrogen (NOx), carbon monoxides (CO), total unburned hydrocarbon (HC), sulfur dioxides (SO₂) and smoke opacity of the engine operation with TF and blend fuels of TF-diesel were experimentally investigated and compared with those of petroleum diesel fuel. It was concluded that the blends of pyrolysis oil of waste tires TF5, TF10, TF25 and TF35 can efficiently be used in diesel engines without any engine modifications. However, the blends of TF50, TF75 and TF100 resulted considerably to high CO, HC, SO₂ and smoke emissions.     

An investigation of the effects of spray angle and injection strategy on dimethyl ether (DME) combustion and exhaust emission characteristics in a common-rail diesel engine

An experimental investigation was performed on the effects of spray angle and injection strategies (single and multiple) on the combustion characteristics, concentrations of exhaust emissions, and the particle size distribution in a direct-injection (DI) compression ignition engine fueled with dimethyl ether (DME) fuel. In this study, two types of narrow spray angle injectors (θ_spray = 70° and 60°) were examined and its results were compared with the results of conventional spray angle (θ_spray = 156°). In addition, to investigate the optimal operating conditions, early single-injection and multiple-injection strategies were employed to reduce cylinder wall-wetting of the injected fuels and to promote the ignition of premixed charge. The engine test was performed at 1400 rpm, and the injection timings were varied from TDC to BTDC 40° of the crank angle.The experimental results showed that the combustion pressure from single combustion for narrow-angle injectors (θ_spray = 70° and 60°) is increased, as compared to the results of the wide-angle injector (θ_spray = 156°) with advanced injection timing of BTDC 35°. In addition, two peaks of the rate of heat release (ROHR) are generated by the combustion of air-fuel premixed mixtures. DME combustion for all test injectors indicated low levels of soot emissions at all injection timings. The NO_x emissions for narrow-angle injectors simultaneously increased in proportion to the advance in injection timing up to BTDC 25°, whereas BTDC 20° for the wide-angle injector. For multiple injections, the combustion pressure and ROHR of the first injection with narrow-angle injectors are combusted more actively, and the ignition delay of the second injected fuel is shorter than with the wide-angle injector. However, the second combustion pressure and ROHR were lower than during the first injection, and combustion durations are prolonged, as compared to the wide-angle injector. With advanced timing of the first injection, narrow-angle injectors with multiple injections could achieve low NO_x levels and soot levels similar to single-injection cases.     

Experimental investigation on a C.I. engine using orange oil and orange oil with DEE

In the present work, the effect of using neat orange oil, optimum orange oil-diesel blend and the optimum flow rate of DEE with orange oil are evaluated for the performance, emissions and combustion characteristics of a single cylinder, diesel engine. The experimental results show that carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbon (HC) and smoke emissions decrease while oxides of nitrogen (NO_x) emissions increase for orange oil and its blends compared to diesel fuel and DEE with orange oil. The brake thermal efficiency in the case of DEE with orange oil is higher than that of orange oil, orange oil-diesel fuel blend and diesel fuel. The peak cylinder pressure and heat release rate for DEE with orange oil are higher than those of diesel fuel operation.     

Experimental study on diesel engine nitrogen oxide reduction running with jojoba methyl ester by exhaust gas recirculation

Jojoba methyl ester (JME) has been used as a renewable fuel in numerous studies evaluating its potential use in diesel engines. These studies showed that this fuel is a very good gas oil substitute but an increase in the nitrogenous oxides emissions was observed at all operating conditions. The aim of this study mainly was to quantify the efficiency of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) when using JME fuel in a fully instrumented, two-cylinder, naturally aspirated, four-stroke direct injection diesel engine. The tests were made in two sections. Firstly, the measured performance and exhaust emissions of the diesel engine operating with diesel fuel and JME are determined and compared. Secondly, tests were performed at two speeds and loads to investigate the EGR effect on engine performance and exhaust emissions including nitrogenous oxides (NO_x), carbon monoxide (CO), unburned hydrocarbons (HC) and exhaust gas temperatures. Also, effect of cooled EGR with high ratio at full load on engine performance and emissions was examined. The results showed that EGR is an effective technique for reducing NO_x emissions with JME fuel especially in light duty diesel engines. A better trade-off between HC, CO and NO_x emissions can be attained within a limited EGR rate of 5-15% with very little economy penalty.     

Phase stability,fuel properties,and diesel engine performance of palm-oil-based microemulsion biofuels

Microemulsification and blending are two viscosity-modifying techniques of vegetable oils for direct use with diesel engine. In this study, alcohol blends are mixtures of ethanol, diesel, and palm-oil biodiesel while microemulsion biofuels are thermodynamically stable, clear, and single-phase mixtures of diesel, palm oil, and ethanol stabilized by surfactants and cosurfactants. Although there are many studies on biofuels lately, there is limited research on using biodiesel as a surfactant in microemulsion formulations and applied on engine performance at different engine loads. Therefore, the objectives are to investigate phase stability and fuel properties of formulated biofuels (various blends and microemulsions), to determine the engine performance at different engine loads (no load, and from 0.5 to 2.0 kW), and to estimate laboratory-scale cost of the selected biofuels compared to diesel and biodiesel. The results showed that phase stability and fuel properties of selected microemulsion biofuels are comparable to diesel and biodiesel. These microemulsion biofuels can be applied to the diesel engine at different loads while diesel-ethanol blends and palm-oil-biodiesel-ethanol blends cannot be. It was found that the energy efficiencies of the system using microemulsion biofuels were slightly lower than the average energy efficiency of diesel engine. From this study, it can be summarized that microemulsion biofuels can be formulated using palm-oil biodiesel (palm-oil methyl ester) as a bio-based surfactant and they can be considered as environmentally-friendly alternatives to diesel and biodiesel. However, cost considerations showed that the raw materials should be locally available to reduce additional costs of microemulsion biofuels.