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14 pages, 3355 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Improvement of Fusel Oil Features and Effect of Its Use in Different Compression Ratios for an SI Engine on Performance and Emission

by Süleyman Şimşek, Hasan Saygın and Bülent Özdalyan

Energies 2020, 13(7), 1824; https://doi.org/10.3390/en13071824 - 09 Apr 2020

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 2776

Abstract

In this study, the effects of the use of improved fusel oil on engine performance and on exhaust emissions in a spark-ignition engine were investigated experimentally in consideration of the water, gum, and moisture content at high compression ratios according to TS EN [...] Read more.

In this study, the effects of the use of improved fusel oil on engine performance and on exhaust emissions in a spark-ignition engine were investigated experimentally in consideration of the water, gum, and moisture content at high compression ratios according to TS EN 228 standards. In the study, a four-stroke, single-cylinder, air-cooled, spark plug ignition engine with an 8/1 compression ratio was used at three different compression ratios (8/1, 8.5/1, 9.12/1). Experiments were performed for six different ratios of fuel blends (F0, F10, F20, F30, F40, and F50) at a constant speed and different loads. The data obtained from the experiments were compared with the original operating parameters of the engine while using gasoline. According to the test results, the optimal engine performance was at a 9.12/1 compression ratio and with a F30 fuel blend. With the increase from an 8/1 to 9.12/1 compression ratio for the F30 fuel blend, the overall efficiency increased by 6.91%, and the specific fuel consumption decreased by 2.35%. The effect of the optimum fusel blend on the emissions was also examined and CO emissions were reduced by 36.82%, HC emissions were reduced by 23.07%, and NO_x emissions were reduced by 15.42%, while CO₂ emissions were increased by 13.88%. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental and Energy Assessment of Alternative Fuels)

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20 pages, 7499 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Experimental Vortex Flow Patterns in the Primary and Secondary Pump Intakes of a Model Underground Pumping Station

by Miao Guo, Zhigang Zuo, Shuhong Liu, Huijun Zou, Baoyu Chen and Deyou Li

Energies 2020, 13(7), 1790; https://doi.org/10.3390/en13071790 - 08 Apr 2020

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3644

Abstract

In order to provide specific references and suggestions for the design and operation of underground pumping stations, in this paper, an experimental model of an underground pumping station, including 4 pumps and 2 pump intakes (primary and secondary), was obtained through similitude of [...] Read more.

In order to provide specific references and suggestions for the design and operation of underground pumping stations, in this paper, an experimental model of an underground pumping station, including 4 pumps and 2 pump intakes (primary and secondary), was obtained through similitude of fluid mechanics. The phase diagrams of various vortices, in terms of different dimensionless numbers are presented, which can reveal their appearance and evolution process. Three specific cases with different vortex flows were analyzed. The experiment results may provide a reference for the current design guidelines for underground pumping stations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental and Energy Assessment of Alternative Fuels)

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12 pages, 7357 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Combustion and Emissions Characteristics of the Turbine Engine Fueled with HEFA Blends from Different Feedstocks

by Bartosz Gawron, Tomasz Białecki, Anna Janicka and Tomasz Suchocki

Energies 2020, 13(5), 1277; https://doi.org/10.3390/en13051277 - 10 Mar 2020

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 3990

Abstract

In the next decade, due to the desire for significant reduction in the carbon footprint left by the aviation sector and the development of a sustainable alternatives to petroleum, fuel from renewable sources will play an increasing role as a propellant for turbine [...] Read more.

In the next decade, due to the desire for significant reduction in the carbon footprint left by the aviation sector and the development of a sustainable alternatives to petroleum, fuel from renewable sources will play an increasing role as a propellant for turbine aircraft engines. Currently, apart from five types of jet fuel containing synthesized hydrocarbons that are certified by the ASTM D7566 standard, there is yet another synthetic blending component that is at the stage of testing and certification. Hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids enable the production of a synthetic component for jet fuel from any form of native fat or oil. Used feedstock affects the final synthetic blending component composition and consequently the properties of the blend for jet fuel and, as a result, the operation of turbine engines. A specialized laboratory test rig with a miniature turbojet engine was used for research, which is an interesting alternative to complex and expensive tests with full scale turbine engines. The results of this study revealed the differences in the parameters of engine performance and emission characteristics between tested fuels with synthetic blending components and neat jet fuel. The synthetic blending component was obtained from two different feedstock. Noticeable changes were obtained for fuel consumption, CO and NO_x emissions. With the addition of the hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA) component, the fuel consumption and CO emissions decrease. The opposite trend was observed for NO_x emission. The tests presented in this article are a continuation of the authors’ research area related to alternative fuels for aviation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental and Energy Assessment of Alternative Fuels)

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13 pages, 7100 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comprehensive Spray Characteristics of Water in Port Fuel Injection Injector

by Jeonghyun Park, Kyung-Hwan Lee and Suhan Park

Energies 2020, 13(2), 396; https://doi.org/10.3390/en13020396 - 13 Jan 2020

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3360

Abstract

The objective of this study was to compare the injection and spray characteristics of water with n-heptane using a port fuel injection (PFI) system. In this study, the injection pressure was changed to 0.3–0.9 Mpa and the energizing duration was changed to 0.5–4 [...] Read more.

The objective of this study was to compare the injection and spray characteristics of water with n-heptane using a port fuel injection (PFI) system. In this study, the injection pressure was changed to 0.3–0.9 Mpa and the energizing duration was changed to 0.5–4 ms. To investigate spray characteristics, the injection quantities of n-heptane and water were measured. Macroscopic spray characteristics were determined through spray visualization. The Sauter mean diameter (SMD) and velocity of spray droplets were measured with a phase Doppler anemometry (PDA) experiment. Spray tip penetration, spray angle, SMD of droplets, and spray droplet velocity were compared. As the injection pressure increased, the injection quantity and the droplets velocity increased. However, the spray tip penetration, SMD of the droplet, and the spray angle decreased. The increase in energizing duration led to an increase in the injection quantity without affecting other spray characteristics. The higher density of water also increased injection quantity, resulting in a decrease in spray tip penetration and increases of SMD and velocity of spray droplets due to high viscosity and surface tension of water. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental and Energy Assessment of Alternative Fuels)

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12 pages, 1507 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Biomass and Lipid Production Potential of an Indian Marine Algal Isolate Tetraselmis striata BBRR1

by Annakkili Baskara Boopathy, Thanasekaran Jayakumar, Senthil Chinnasamy, Muthu Ganesan Rajaram, Natarajan Mohan, Subramani Nagaraj, Ramasamy Rengasamy, Manjunath Manubolu, Joen-Rong Sheu and Chao-Chien Chang

Energies 2020, 13(2), 341; https://doi.org/10.3390/en13020341 - 10 Jan 2020

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3142

Abstract

Four different strains of marine algae viz. Tetraselmis tetrathele, Tetraselmis striata, Tetraselmis chuii, and Tetraselmis gracilis were isolated from the saltpans in Kovelong, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. The systematic position of Tetraselmis striata BBRR1 was confirmed through molecular identification. Under [...] Read more.

Four different strains of marine algae viz. Tetraselmis tetrathele, Tetraselmis striata, Tetraselmis chuii, and Tetraselmis gracilis were isolated from the saltpans in Kovelong, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. The systematic position of Tetraselmis striata BBRR1 was confirmed through molecular identification. Under laboratory conditions, T. striata Butcher BBRR1 grown in f/2-medium recorded highest biomass concentration of 0.58 ± 0.021 g L⁻¹, volumetric productivity of 0.025 ± 0.004 g L⁻¹ d⁻¹, 19 ± 2.3% proteins, 17 ± 1.5% carbohydrates, and 15 ± 2.4% lipids. Volumetric biomass productivity of 0.063 ± 0.08 g L⁻¹ d⁻¹, specific growth rate of 0.45 day⁻¹ and lipid content of 19.42 ± 0.98% were recorded for the alga T. striata Butcher BBRR1 cultivated in 10-m² open raceway ponds using Modified CFTRI ABRR1 medium. The fatty acid profile of T. striata Butcher BBRR1 showed the presence of 33.14% palmitic acid, 22.64% 11-octadecenoic acid, and 21.94% heptadecanoic acid. This study confirms the feasibility of cultivating the marine alga T. striata in open raceway ponds to produce biomass, which can be used for the production of biofuels. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental and Energy Assessment of Alternative Fuels)

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15 pages, 2912 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of the Bore to Stroke Ratio on Combustion, Gaseous and Particulate Emissions in a Small Port Fuel Injection Engine Fueled with Ethanol Blended Gasoline

by Jihwan Jang, Jonghui Choi, Hoseung Yi and Sungwook Park

Energies 2020, 13(2), 321; https://doi.org/10.3390/en13020321 - 09 Jan 2020

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4382

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to analyze the combustion characteristics of the port fuel injection (PFI) engine considering the fuel mixing ratio, bore to stroke (B/S) ratio and gaseous and particle emissions. Experiments were conducted in a small single-cylinder PFI engine with [...] Read more.

The purpose of this study is to analyze the combustion characteristics of the port fuel injection (PFI) engine considering the fuel mixing ratio, bore to stroke (B/S) ratio and gaseous and particle emissions. Experiments were conducted in a small single-cylinder PFI engine with a displacement of 125 cc. The fuel used in the experiment was a mixture of pure gasoline and ethanol. The engine was operated at 5000 rpm at full load and wide-open throttle. In addition, combustion and exhaust characteristics of the engines with a B/S ratio of 0.88 and 1.15 were analyzed. The combustion pressure inside the combustion chamber was measured to analyze the indicated mean effective pressure (IMEP) and the heat release rate, and the combustion rate was calculated. In the results of combustion characteristics by the difference of B/S ratio, the influence of flame propagation velocity and turbulence intensity is the largest. The 0.88 B/S ratio engine, which has a small bore, has a faster combustion rate than the 1.15 B/S ratio engine due to its larger flame surface area and larger turbulence intensity. This represents a higher efficiency combustion result. Finally, the high oxygen content of ethanol has the characteristic of decreasing soot formation and increasing particle oxidation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental and Energy Assessment of Alternative Fuels)

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13 pages, 2049 KiB

Open AccessArticle

NOx Emissions from Euro 5 and Euro 6 Heavy-Duty Diesel Vehicles under Real Driving Conditions

by Sangchul Ko, Junhong Park, Hyungjun Kim, Gunwoo Kang, Jongchul Lee, Jongmin Kim and Jongtae Lee

Energies 2020, 13(1), 218; https://doi.org/10.3390/en13010218 - 02 Jan 2020

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 6772

Abstract

Despite the strengthening of vehicle emissions standards and test methods, nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from on-road mobile sources are not being notably reduced. The introduction of real driving emission (RDE) regulations is expected to reduce the discrepancy between emission regulations and actual air [...] Read more.

Despite the strengthening of vehicle emissions standards and test methods, nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from on-road mobile sources are not being notably reduced. The introduction of real driving emission (RDE) regulations is expected to reduce the discrepancy between emission regulations and actual air pollution. To analyze the effects of RDE regulations on heavy-duty diesel vehicles, pollutants emitted while driving were measured using a portable emission measurement system (PEMS) for Euro 5 and Euro 6 vehicles, which were produced before and after RDE regulations, respectively. NOx emissions were compared as a function of emissions allowance standards, gross vehicle weight (GVW), average vehicle speed, and ambient temperature. NOx emissions from Euro 6 vehicles were found to be low, regardless of GVW; emissions from both vehicular categories increased with a decline in the average speed. To reflect real road driving characteristics more broadly in the RDE test method for heavy-duty vehicles, it is necessary to consider engine power, which is a criterion for classifying effective sections, in the moving average window (MAW) analysis method, as well as including cold start conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental and Energy Assessment of Alternative Fuels)

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15 pages, 5325 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Water Vapor Injection on the Distributions of Equivalence Ratio and the NO Emission Reduction in a CI Engine

by Se Hun Min and Hyun Kyu Suh

Energies 2019, 12(22), 4248; https://doi.org/10.3390/en12224248 - 07 Nov 2019

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2110

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of a water vapor injection into the intake port of a small compression ignition engine and analyze the effect of the collisions between the water particles and the injected fuel on combustion and [...] Read more.

The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of a water vapor injection into the intake port of a small compression ignition engine and analyze the effect of the collisions between the water particles and the injected fuel on combustion and exhaust emission performances. To simulate the water vapor by the ultrasonic humidifier in the numerical analysis, the water particles were introduced into the cylinder through an intake port during the intake process, and the amount was varied from 10% to 30% of the injected fuel mass per stroke. When the water vapor was injected into the intake port, the rich equivalence ratio region was distributed in the center of cylinder. In addition, the ISNO (indicated specific nitrogen oxide) values decreased up to 46% more than the values for the condition without the water-vapor-injection. However, the ISSoot (indicated specific soot) exhibited similar values in any conditions. For starts of energizing timing that were BTDC (before top dead center) 25 deg and 15 deg, the ISFC (indicated fuel consumption) values decreased with increased portions of water vapor. However, in the case of BTDC 05deg, the ignition delay was too long, which deteriorated combustion performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental and Energy Assessment of Alternative Fuels)

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Review

Jump to: Research

41 pages, 826 KiB

Open AccessReview

Review on the Use of Diesel–Biodiesel–Alcohol Blends in Compression Ignition Engines

by Rodica Niculescu, Adrian Clenci and Victor Iorga-Siman

Energies 2019, 12(7), 1194; https://doi.org/10.3390/en12071194 - 27 Mar 2019

Cited by 113 | Viewed by 6768

Abstract

The use of alternative fuels contributes to the lowering of the carbon footprint of the internal combustion engine. Biofuels are the most important kinds of alternative fuels. Currently, thanks to the new manufacturing processes of biofuels, there is potential to decrease greenhouse gas [...] Read more.

The use of alternative fuels contributes to the lowering of the carbon footprint of the internal combustion engine. Biofuels are the most important kinds of alternative fuels. Currently, thanks to the new manufacturing processes of biofuels, there is potential to decrease greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, compared to fossil fuels, on a well-to-wheel basis. Amongst the most prominent alternative fuels to be used in mixtures/blends with fossil fuels in internal combustion (IC) engines are biodiesel, bioethanol, and biomethanol. With this perspective, considerable attention has been given to biodiesel and petroleum diesel fuel blends in compression ignition (CI) engines. Many studies have been conducted to assess the impacts of biodiesel use on engine operation. The addition of alcohols such as methanol and ethanol is also practised in biodiesel–diesel blends, due to their miscibility with the pure biodiesel. Alcohols improve the physico-chemical properties of biodiesel–diesel blends, which lead to improved CI engine operation. This review paper discusses some results of recent studies on biodiesel, bioethanol, and biomethanol production, their physicochemical properties, and also, on the influence of the use of diesel–biodiesel–alcohols blends in CI engines: combustion characteristics, performance, and emissions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental and Energy Assessment of Alternative Fuels)

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