Experimental Investigations on Combustion, Performance, and Emission Characteristics of Stationary CI Engine Fueled with Diesel-Methanol and Biodiesel-Methanol Blends

This article presents the experimental studies of the one-cylinder, stationary diesel engine powered by blends of diesel and biodiesel with methanol. In the case of diesel-methanol mixture (DM) investigated, there is up to 40% of the alcohol content in the mixture, while in the case of biodiesel-methanol mixture (BM), the share of the alcohol was up to 50%. The normal combustion process achieved up to 30% of alcohol fraction. Further increase in the alcohol content led to a significant drop in cylinder pressure and the abnormal combustion process. The analysis of the test results showed that in both cases the alcohol content in the mixture should not exceed 30%. In case of DM blend, the increase in ITE by 13% and for BM by 11% compared to powering by diesel or biodiesel fuel. IMEP is kept on near the same level equal to 6.6 bar for DM and 5.8 bar for BM. For these mixtures, it was not exceeded the limited value of COVIMEP equal to 10. The increase in the methanol content up to 30% does not significantly affect changes in emissions of hydrocarbons (THC) and carbon dioxide (CO2), and reduces emission of carbon monoxide (CO). The increase in methanol fraction in blend up to 30% causes large decrease in CO emission (of about 60%) and it does not cause significant changes in hydrocarbon emissions THC and CO2. This methanol fraction causes the increase in NOx emission. The emission of NOx was increased by 68% for DM and by 35% for BM. (c) 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 36: 1151-1163, 2017