Project Overview
Development of an Automated Diesel Engine Test Stand for Evaluating Combustion and Exhaust Emission Characteristics of Nanoemulsion Biofuels
Annual Reports
Information Products
Commodities
- Agronomic: canola, corn, rapeseed, soybeans
Practices
- Energy: bioenergy and biofuels, energy use
Abstract:
Using biodiesel in diesel engines has several positive effects on reducing the exhaust emissions. However, biodiesel containing fuel blends tend to increase the NOx emissions from diesel engines compared to petroleum diesel. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of biodiesel and surfactant concentrations of a water-biodiesel-diesel nanoemulsion fuel on engine performance and exhaust emissions of a 4-cylinder diesel engine. Biodiesel nanoemulsions were prepared based on statistical experimental design methodology. An instrumented 4-cylinder diesel engine test stand was developed and used for the engine performance and exhaust emissions of the biodiesel nanoemulsions. The results showed that biodiesel nanoemulsions reduced the NOx emissions compared to biodiesel-diesel blends at the same biodiesel concentrations. Increasing the surfactant concentration at constant water and biodiesel concentrations produced higher engine powers. Emulsified biodiesel reduced the NOx emissions and exhaust temperature but increased the brake specific fuel consumption and CO emissions.
Project objectives:
The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance and exhaust emissions (NOx, CO, CO?, soot opacity) of a 4-cylinder diesel engine fueled with water-biodiesel-diesel emulsions at various biodiesel and surfactant concentrations.
