Aqueous Alcohol Fumigation of a Single-Cylinder DI Diesel Engine

A single-cylinder, 0.36 liter, D.I. Diesel engine was operated on Diesel fuel, sunflowerseed oil, cottonseed oil, soybean oil, and peanut oil. The purpose of this study was to provide a detailed comparison of performance and emissions data and to characterize the biological activity of the particulate soluble organic fraction for each fuel using the Ames Salmonella typhimurium test. In addition, exhaust gas aldehyde samples were collected using the DNPH method. These samples were analyzed gravimetrically and separated into components from formaldehyde to heptaldehyde with a gas chromatograph. Results comparing the vegetable oils to Diesel fuel generally show slight improvements in thermal efficiency and indicated specific energy consumption; equal or higher gas-phase emissions; lower indicated specific revertant emissions; and significantly higher aldehyde emissions, including an increased percentage of formaldehyde.

Single-cylinder diesel engine study of four vegetable oils

Essais sur un moteur diesel monocylindre de differents carburants derives du charbon et du schiste

Single-Cylinder Diesel Engine Study of Several Shale and Coal-Derived Fuels

Results comparing fuel efficiency, pressure development history, gas phase emissions, and particulate biological activity for several nonpetroleum-based fuels with a standard number two diesel fuel oil baseline are presented. In addition, a correlation based on ignition delay is presented which appears to more reliably reflect the combustion performance for these nonpetroleum fuels than does the cetane index. In this single-cylinder engine study, it was found that none of the fuels investigated showed a marked difference in fuel efficiency when compared to diesel fuel oil. The same was not generally true for the exhaust emissions, where differences were found in the gas-phase as well as the particulate emissions. Most notable were the changes in the oxides of nitrogen and in the particulate generation rates. The oxides of nitrogen were fuel dependent as was the mass rate of particulate production and its soluble organic fraction. For each fuel, the mass rate of particulate generated turned out to be linearly dependent on the rate of fuel consumption.

Performance Of Alternative Fuels In Diesel Engines

Performance and emission data are collected for various candidate alternate fuels and compare these data to that for a certified petroleum based number two Diesel fuel oil. Results for methanol, ethanol, four vegetable oils, two shale derived oils, and two coal derived oils are reported. Alcohol fumigation does not appear to be a practical method for utilizing low combustion quality fuels in a Diesel engine. Alcohol fumigation enhances the bioactivity of the emitted exhaust particles. While it is possible to inject many synthetic fuels using the engine stock injection system, wholly acceptable performance is only obtained from a fuel whose specifications closely approach those of a finished petroleum based Diesel oil. This is illustrated by the contrast between the poor performance of the unupgraded coal derived fuel blends and the very good performance of the fully refined shale derived fuel.

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Utilization of alternative fuels in diesel engines

A single cylinder DI Diesel engine was fumigated with ethanol and methanol in amounts up to 55% of the total fuel energy. The effects of aqueous alcohol fumigation on engine thermal efficiency, combustion intensity and gaseous exhaust emissions were determined. Assessment of changes in the biological activity of raw particulate and its soluble organic fraction were also made using the Salmonella typhimurium test. Alcohol fumigation improved thermal efficiency slightly at moderate and heavy loads, but increased ignition delay at all operating conditions. Carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbon emission generally increased with alcohol fumigation and showed no dependence on alcohol type or quality. Oxide of nitrogen emission showed a strong dependence on alcohol quality; relative emission levels decreased with increasing water content of the fumigant. Particulate mass loading rates were lower for ethanol fueled conditions. However, the biological activity of both the raw particulate and its soluble organic fraction was enhanced by ethanol fumigation at most operating conditions.

/pdf/performance-and-emissions-characteristics-of-aqueous-alcohol-3e7ulck9fn.pdf

S. S. Lestz

Papers

Performance and emissions characteristics of aqueous alcohol fumes in a DI diesel engine