Performance and Emission Characteristics of n-Pentanol–Diesel Blends in a Single-Cylinder CI Engine

Doohyun Kim, Jeonghyeon Yang and Jaesung Kwon ()
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Doohyun Kim: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan-Dearborn, 4901 Evergreen Road, Dearborn, MI 48128, USA
Jeonghyeon Yang: Department of Mechanical System Engineering, Gyeongsang National University, 2 Tongyeonghaean-ro, Tongyeong 53064, Republic of Korea
Jaesung Kwon: Department of Mechanical System Engineering, Gyeongsang National University, 2 Tongyeonghaean-ro, Tongyeong 53064, Republic of Korea

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 19, 1-20

Abstract: This work provides a systematic evaluation of the performance and regulated emissions of binary n-pentanol–diesel blends under steady-state conditions, thereby clarifying condition-dependent efficiency–emission trade-offs across multiple loads and speeds. A single-cylinder, air-cooled diesel engine was operated at two speeds (1700 and 2700 rpm) and four brake mean effective pressure (BMEP) levels (0.25–0.49 MPa) using commercial diesel (D100) and three n-pentanol–diesel blends at volume ratios of 10%, 30%, and 50% (designated D90P10, D70P30, and D50P50, respectively). Brake thermal efficiency (BTE), brake specific energy consumption (BSEC), and brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) were measured alongside exhaust emissions of nitrogen oxides (NO x ), carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbon (HC), carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), and smoke opacity. The results show that due to a lower cetane number, high latent heat of vaporization, and reduced heating value, n-pentanol blends incur efficiency and fuel consumption penalties at light to moderate loads. However, these disadvantages diminish or reverse at high loads and speeds: D50P50 surpasses D100 in BTE and matches or improves BSEC and BSFC at 2700 rpm and 0.49 MPa. Emission data reveal that the blend’s fuel-bound oxygen and enhanced mixing provide up to 16% NO x reduction; 35% and 45% reductions in CO and HC, respectively; and a 74% reduction in smoke opacity under demanding conditions, while CO 2 per unit work output aligns with or falls below D100 at high load. These findings demonstrate that optimized n-pentanol–diesel blends can simultaneously improve efficiency and mitigate emissions, offering a practical pathway for low-carbon diesel engines.

Keywords: n-pentanol; diesel engine; compression ignition; performance; emissions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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