Effects of Ethanol–Diesel Blends on Cylinder Pressure, Ignition Delay, and NO x Emissions in a Diesel Engine

Krzysztof Górski (), Dimitrios Tziourtzioumis, Ruslans Smigins and Rafał Longwic
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Krzysztof Górski: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Casimir Pulaski Radom University, ul. Chrobrego 45, 26-600 Radom, Poland
Dimitrios Tziourtzioumis: Laboratory of Energy Systems, Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, International Hellenic University, Alexander University Campus, 57400 Sindos, Greece
Ruslans Smigins: Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies, Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, J. Cakstes blvd 5, LV3001 Jelgava, Latvia
Rafał Longwic: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Lublin University of Technology, Nadbystrzycka 38D St., 22-618 Lublin, Poland

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 9, 1-19

Abstract: This study examined how adding ethanol to diesel fuel affects combustion characteristics, cylinder pressure and NO x emissions in an AVL engine. The research focused on key engine parameters, including autoignition delay, in-cylinder pressure rise rates, the peaks of the mean in-cylinder temperature and NO x emissions. Three fuel types were tested: pure diesel (DF) and blends with 10 and 20% ethanol by volume (DF10 and DF20). The results obtained indicate that increasing the ethanol content in diesel fuel significantly affects the combustion process of the fuel mixture, particularly in its early stage, reducing the benefits of the pilot fuel injection. Moreover, it was observed that the combustion of the DF20 mixture leads to a substantially higher pressure increase in the cylinder, exceeding the values recorded for pure diesel fuel by approximately 25%. Furthermore, the study revealed that ethanol addition increases the peaks of the mean in-cylinder temperature, with a recorded difference of up to 60 °C between pure diesel fuel and DF20. Since NO x formation is highly temperature-dependent, this temperature rise is likely to result in higher NO x concentration. Additionally, a slight effect of ethanol on increasing the ignition delay angle was observed. This remained minor, and did not exceed approximately 1 CA. These findings highlight the complex relationship between ethanol content in diesel fuel, combustion dynamics, and emissions. They emphasize the need for optimizing the injection process for ethanol–diesel blends to balance the benefits of ethanol addition with potential challenges related to combustion efficiency, engine load and NO x concentration.

Keywords: diesel; combustion; ethanol (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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