Influence of Glycerol on Methanol Fuel Characteristics and Engine Combustion Performance

Chao Jin, Tianyun Sun, Teng Xu, Xueli Jiang, Min Wang, Zhao Zhang, Yangyi Wu, Xiaoteng Zhang and Haifeng Liu ()
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Chao Jin: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
Tianyun Sun: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
Teng Xu: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
Xueli Jiang: Shandong Chambroad New Energy Holding Development Co., Ltd., Binzhou 371600, China
Min Wang: Tianjin Institute of Product Quality Supervision and Testing Technology, Tianjin 300392, China
Zhao Zhang: State Key Laboratory of Engines, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
Yangyi Wu: State Key Laboratory of Engines, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
Xiaoteng Zhang: State Key Laboratory of Engines, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
Haifeng Liu: State Key Laboratory of Engines, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 18, 1-14

Abstract: Methanol derived from solar energy is a carbon-neutral alternative fuel for engines. The low viscosity of methanol is one of the problems that restrict its direct compression ignition application in engines. Glycerol is a renewable resource derived from biomass, and its viscosity is more than 1700 times that of methanol. In this study, glycerol was mixed with methanol in different volume fractions (1–50%), and a methanol-glycerol mixture with similar viscosity to diesel was prepared. Then, the particle size, electrical conductivity, viscosity, swelling and corrosion characteristics of the mixed fuel were measured. Finally, the combustion and emission tests of methanol-glycerol mixed fuel were carried out on a heavy-duty multi-cylinder diesel engine. The results show that glycerol can effectively adjust the viscosity of the mixed fuel. The viscosity of the mixed fuel can reach 3.19 mm 2 /s at 20 °C when blended with 30% glycerol by volume, which meets the requirements of the national standard for diesel fuel. The addition of glycerol can alleviate the corrosion of methanol to the polymer. The test of the mixed fuel in the direct compression ignition engine shows that the thermal efficiency of methanol mixed with 5% glycerol was further improved than that of pure methanol, both of which were significantly higher than the thermal efficiency of diesel compression ignition engines. Methanol and 5% glycerol by volume blends can reduce soot and nitrogen oxide emissions while maintaining low HC and CO emissions. Therefore, proper blending of glycerol in methanol fuel can optimize the fuel properties of methanol and achieve higher thermal efficiency and lower pollutant emissions than pure methanol direct compression ignition.

Keywords: engine combustion performance; methanol; climate neutral; emissions; fuel properties; glycerol direct compression ignition (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: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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