Title: Engine performance and emissions from the combustion of low-temperature Fischer–Tropsch synthetic diesel fuel and biodiesel rapeseed methyl ester blends

Authors: Kampanart Theinnoi, Athanasios Tsolakis, Sathaporn Chuepeng, Andrew P.E. York, Roger F. Cracknell, Richard H. Clark

Addresses: School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK. ' School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK. ' School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK. ' Johnson Matthey Technology Centre, Blount's Court, Sonning Common, Reading RG4 9NH, UK. ' Retail and Automotive Fuels technology Group, Shell Global Solutions (UK), Shell Technology Centre Thornton, P.O. Box 1, Chester CH1 3SH, UK. ' Retail and Automotive Fuels Technology Group, Shell Global Solutions (UK), Shell Technology Centre Thornton, P.O. Box 1, Chester CH1 3SH, UK

Abstract: The combustion of oxygenated biodiesel (rapeseed methyl ester (RME)) improves the engine-out particulate matter, hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide (CO) emissions, while the low-temperature Fischer–Tropsch synthetic paraffinic diesel fuel improves engine-out NO_x, CO, hydrocarbon and particulate matter emissions. Blending synthetic diesel (SD) fuel with oxygenated biodiesel could unlock potential performance synergies in the fuel properties (e.g. O₂ content in RME and high cetane number of the synthetic fuels) of such blends and benefit engine performance and emissions. The combustion of synthetic diesel fuel/RME blend, named synthetic diesel B50, has shown similar combustion characteristics to diesel fuel, while simultaneous improvements in engine efficiency and smoke-NO_x trade-off were achieved by taking advantage of the fuel|s properties. The engine thermal efficiency was dependent on the fuel type, and followed the general trend: synthetic diesel > SDB50 > diesel > RME. Therefore, it has been shown that the design of a synthetic fuel with properties similar to the fuel blends presented in this work could improve engine-out NO_x, smoke and hydrocarbon emissions and maintain or improve engine performance.

Keywords: oxygenated biodiesel; combustion; emissions; engine performance; fuel blending; RME; rapeseed methyl ester; synthetic diesel; biofuels; diesel engines; particulate matter; hydrocarbon emissions; carbon monoxide emissions; nitrogen oxides; thermal efficiency; synthetic fuel.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.2009.024974

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 2009 Vol.50 No.1/2/3/4, pp.196 - 212

Published online: 06 May 2009 *

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