Promising results with YXY Diesel components in an ESC test cycle using a PACCAR Diesel engine

A new process to produce YXY fuel components from carbohydrates is under development by Avantium. YXY fuel components are furan-based mono- and diethers with good fuel blending properties and a relatively high energy density. In this paper the engine performance of a wide range of Diesel YXY mixtures was tested using an ESC test with a 6 cylinder PACCAR heavy duty engine. At all conditions tested (different blendings and different steps in the ESC cycle) no difference in the engine operation was observed. Ethoxymethyl Tetrahydrofuran Ether (ETE) gave the best results with substantial reductions in particulate matter (%) and smoke (%) at up to 30% (v/v) blending ratios while NO and maximum cylinder pressure were only marginally changed. Furfuryl Ethyl Ether (FEE) also caused substantial reductions of soot however, at the cost of higher NOx formation and a stronger oscillating effect in the max cylinder pressure. Applying a 1:1 mixture of the ETE/FEE YXY molecules quenched the effect seen with FEE alone indicating the strength of producing mixtures of different YXY molecules as the ideal fuel component. Further research will address the elastomer compatibility of the different YXY molecules and if higher alcohols (e.g. n-butanol, t-butanol) for the etherification will make the fuels even better fitting the Diesel fuel range (improved energy content, higher flashpoint, boiling point). (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.