EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF DIESEL-ETHANOL FUEL BLENDS IN A COMPRESSION IGNITION ENGINE
H. Enes Fil, Selahaddin Orhan Akansu
Abstract
Depletion of fossil fuels and environmental pollution has led researchers to foresee the need to develop biofuels. Alcohols are a major component of biofuels. The interest in biofuels was stimulated by fossil fuel depletion and global warming. Ethanol is a promising alternative applicable in internal combustion engines by virtue of its sustainability and soot-reducing potential. This paper deals with the analysis of the impact of different fuel blends of diesel-ethanol on the performance and emissions in a compression ignition (CI) engine. Three different proportions of 100% diesel (E0), 90% diesel-10% ethanol (E10), and 80% diesel-20% ethanol (E20) by volume are blended with diesel that is being used as fuel. Tests were conducted on a liquid-cooled three-cylinder direct injection (DI) diesel engine at 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% load conditions at various ethanol mass. The effects of blended fuels on engine performance were investigated, and results showed that E10 presents the highest volumetric efficiency; on the other hand, E20 showed the lowest volumetric efficiency. Maximum in-cylinder pressure occurred with conventional diesel combustion. Results indicated that the concentrations of CO2 and HC (unburnt hydrocarbons) emissions were not significantly different. E10 presented the lowest CO emissions at all engine loads. Additionally, NO emissions peaked with E20 at 75% load.