Experimental Study of 2-Ethylhexyl Nitrate Effects on Engine Performance and Exhaust Emissions of Diesel Engine Fueled with Diesel–2-Methylfuran Blends

Balla M. Ahmed, Maji Luo (), Hassan A. M. Elbadawi, Nasreldin M. Mahmoud and Pang-Chieh Sui
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Balla M. Ahmed: Hubei Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Automotive Components, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
Maji Luo: Hubei Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Automotive Components, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
Hassan A. M. Elbadawi: Hubei Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Automotive Components, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
Nasreldin M. Mahmoud: Mechanical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, University of Sinnar, Sinnar 21111, Sudan
Pang-Chieh Sui: Hubei Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Automotive Components, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China

Energies, 2024, vol. 18, issue 1, 1-16

Abstract: 2-Methylfuran (2-MF) has emerged as a promising renewable alternative fuel, primarily due to its sustainable production processes and its potential to significantly reduce soot emissions. However, when blended with diesel, it presents challenges, including an increase in NOx emissions, which is attributed to the lower cetane number (CN) of the M30 blend. This study investigates the effect of adding 2-ethylhexyl nitrate (2-EHN), a cetane enhancer, to the M30 blend (30% 2-MF by volume), on combustion characteristics and exhaust emissions. Experiments were conducted using a modified four-cylinder, four-stroke, direct-injection compression ignition (DICI) engine featuring a common rail fuel injection system. The engine was evaluated under different load conditions, with brake mean effective pressure (BMEP) ranging from 0.13 to 1.13 MPa, while maintaining a constant engine speed of 1800 rpm. The incorporation of 1.5% and 2.5% 2-EHN into the M30 blend enhanced combustion performance, as indicated by a reduction in the maximum pressure rise rate, a shorter ignition delay (ID), and an extended combustion duration (CD). Furthermore, the brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC) reduced by 2.78% and 5.7%, while the brake thermal efficiency (BTE) increased by 3.54% and 7.1%, respectively. Moreover, the inclusion of 2-EHN led to a significant reduction in Nox by 9.20–17.57%, with the most significant reduction observed at a 2.5% 2-EHN, where hydrocarbon (HC) decreased by 7.93–21.59%, and carbon monoxide (CO) reduced by 12.11–33.98% as compared to the M30 blend without 2-EHN. Although a slight increase in soot emissions was observed with higher concentrations of 2-EHN, soot levels remained significantly lower than those from pure diesel. The results indicate that the addition of 2-EHN can effectively mitigate the trade-off between NOx and soot emissions in low cetane number oxygenated fuels.

Keywords: 2-ethylhexyl nitrate; diesel and MF blends; diesel engine; combustion; 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: 2024
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