Experimental investigation on performance and emission characteristics of a CI diesel engine fueled with fusel oil/diesel fuel blends

In reaction to the increasing number of vehicles every passing day, the quest for alternative fuels has accelerated due to limited fuel resources and their negative effects on the environment. Alcohols have an important place in the research on alternative fuels. Fusel oil is an alcohol-based fuel obtained as a by-product during the fermentation of alcohol. In this experimental study, pure diesel fuel and fusel oil-diesel fuel mixtures were used in a single cylinder compression-ignition (CI) engine, the engine performance, combustion and exhaust emission characteristics were examined. The experiment was performed at a constant engine speed (2600 1/min) and at different engine loads (2.5 Nm, 5 Nm, 7.5 Nm, 10 Nm and 12.5 Nm). According to the results, brake specific energy consumption (BSEC) increased and exhaust gas temperature decreased in fusel oil mixtures when compared to pure diesel fuel. It was also found that carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and smoke emissions decreased with the fusel oil mixtures. On the other hand, raising the amount of the fusel oil additive negatively affected the engine performance and there was a decrease in the maximum in-cylinder pressure.