Title: An investigation of the performance of an ignition compression engine using ethanol-butanol-diesel mixtures

Authors: Roberto Guimarães Pereira; Ithamar Ribeiro Rangel

Addresses: TEM/PGMEC/MSG/PGEB, Fluminense Federal University, Rua Passo da Pátria 156, CEP 24210-240, Niterói, RJ, Brazil ' Mechanical Engineering Department, Geraldo Di Biase University Center – UGB, Rua Dep. Geraldo Di Biase 81, CEP 27213-080, Aterrado, Volta Redonda, RJ, Brazil

Abstract: The low solubility of ethanol in the diesel oil has motivated the study of ternary mixtures using butanol like co-solvent. Within this approach several mixtures were tested in the MBB OM355/6A engine, obtaining, in some cases, a performance equal to or greater than that of diesel oil. The volume proportions of butanol, ethanol and diesel for each fuel tested were, respectively: 3%, 7% and 90%; 3.5%, 8% and 88.5%; 5%, 7.5% and 87.5%; 4.5%, 8% and 87.5%; 5%, 10% and 85%. The results obtained in the dynamometric bench tests, the rheological parameters and the physicochemical properties of the mixtures are presented. The mixture with 3% of butanol, 7% of ethanol and 90% of diesel [MD10(3+7)BE] showed the best performance in the engine tests, with brake specific fuel consumption lower than diesel fuel, for all engine speed at full load, and with brake thermal efficiency higher than diesel fuel, for all engine speed at full load. [Received: December 16, 2017; Accepted: December 18, 2018]

Keywords: energy; diesel engine; ethanol; butanol.

DOI: 10.1504/IJOGCT.2020.109443

International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology, 2020 Vol.25 No.2, pp.184 - 201

Received: 16 Dec 2017
Accepted: 18 Dec 2018
Published online: 09 Sep 2020 *

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