A new diesel oxygenate additive and its effects on engine combustion and emissions

2-methoxyethyl acetate (MEA) can be used to decrease exhaust smoke as a new oxygenated additive of diesel. Several fuel blends which containing 10%, 15% and 20% MEA were prepared. The effects of MEA on engine's power, fuel economy, emissions and combustion characteristics were studied on a single cylinder DI diesel engine. Under the same speed and load conditions, the maximum cylinder pressure decreases when fueled with the blends, while the ignition delays and the combustion duration becomes shorter. The engine emissions of smoke, HC and CO are reduced when MEA is added in diesel. However, MEA has a little effect on NOx emissions. When fueled with MEA15, the coefficient of light absorption of smoke opacimeter decreases about 50% with expense of 5% power, and the engine's thermal efficiency increases about 2%. (C) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.