BrunelUniversity

Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering

Academic Session: 2014-2015
Name of Student: Latifah Mohd Bakri
Supervisor: Dr. Lionel Ganippa

Title: Effects of Diesel and Diesel-Biodiesel-Ethanol Blends on Diesel

Engine Performance, Emission Characteristics and Its Fuel Properties

Abstract:

This report describes the performance of diesel engine running with diesel and

diesel-biodiesel-ethanol blends at different engine speed and loading conditions. Based on

different fuels used to run the diesel engine Yanmar L70N, the exhaust emissions were
investigated using Testo 350 Flue Gas Analyzer. The output characteristics of the fuel consumption
or specific fuel consumption of each fuel were justified and compared with current diesel fuel to
assess its feasibility as a fuel for compression ignition (CI) engine. Concerning greenhouse effect
within the earths atmosphere and local pollution, the exhaust emissions of carbon monoxide (CO),
unburned hydrocarbon uHC, sulphur dioxide SO2 and nitrogen dioxide (NOx) were measured in
order to make sure it follow current legislation regarding emissions. Experiments were performed
using the equipment and the results are analysed and discussed.

Objectives:

The objectives of this research paper are to prepare different fractional

composition of diesel-biodiesel-ethanol blends with relevant characteristics or better performance

than diesel fuel, look at the fuel consumption of diesel-biodiesel-ethanol blends at different engine
speed and loads then compared with current diesel fuel used in small DI engine, investigate the
fuel flow rate of diesel and diesel-biodiesel-ethanol blends at constant speed while changing the
load and to analyze the exhaust emissions of carbon monoxide (CO), unburned hydrocarbon uHC,
sulphur dioxide SO2 and nitrogen dioxide (NOx) released from the diesel engine.

Background/Applications:

In 1970s, the worldwide fuel crisis initiated

awareness to reduce the dependency on petroleum fuel for transportation and power
generation due to the vulnerability and shortages of fossil (petroleum) fuel in many
countries of the world. Significant attention was then concentrated on the
improvement of the alternative fuels used in diesel engine. Important factors such as
supply and distribution, engine stability and fuel delivery reliability to the engine have
to be considered when the issue of using an alternative fuel in the diesel engines
comes into consideration. A lot of effort has been made to minimize the use of

petroleum fuels all over the world. Since diesel received much attention these
days, the fuel consumption and the emissions released by diesel fuel in CI
engine is the important part in recent studies. However, the introduction of
biodiesel and ethanol with diesel fuel recently is another alternative to be use
in the small direct injection engine.

Conclusions: In conclusion the factors affecting engine performance is actually based on

chemical composition of diesel fuel (physicochemical properties), the temperature used at which
the blend is used, the percentage of ethanol present in the blend, cetane number, density,
viscosity and lubricity, energy content/ energy output, cold flow property, heat of vaporization, flash
point and the calorific value.

Results:
From the results obtained it is clearly seen the engine performance increased as the
small DI diesel engine was run with diesel-biodiesel-ethanol blend with 80% diesel, 15%
biodiesel and 5% ethanol. Even though decreasing of the calorific value negatively
affects the engine torque, and increases the fuel consumption, the presents of ethanol in
this blend give an ideal combination of the fractional component of diesel, biodiesel and
ethanol blends to produce a better fuel economy and better engine performance with
lower emissions.
Blend of fuel with 75% of diesel, 20 of biodiesel and 5% of ethanol only give a better
engine performance at certain condition as compared to the classical diesel fuel. The fuel
blend should running at the higher load as proven by the results achieved. It shows the
fuel gives lower specific fuel consumption when runs at 2800rpm to 3000rpm with 3.0kW
and 5.0kW load compared to diesel fuel. This gives an increased of the engine
performance by about 20% in comparison with the diesel fuel.
From the gas analyser tests, it shows that DBE 80-15-5% shows the lowest HC
emissions when the engine runs at part load, high loading condition and without any load
applied on the engine. The reduction of HC emissions is about 300ppm which is 50%
lower than that of CO emissions in diesel fuel.
On the other hand, there is reduction in NO x emissions when the engine runs with
DBE 75-20-5% at high load. The NO x emissions at this engine condition are 600ppm
which is 14% lower than that in diesel fuel under the same operating condition. The CO
emission of this blend at 3.3kW gives similar emissions with diesel of 400ppm.
Increasing the CN from 50 to 58 causes considerable (even up to 30%) lowering of
the CO and HC emission and lowering NOx by several percent, without significantly
affecting the PM emission level.