Abstract:

In this study, blends of No. 2 diesel fuel and ethanol with rapeseed oil and soybean oil methyl esters were tested in a four-stroke, four-cylinder, direct injection (DI) diesel engine. Tests were performed using diesel fuel + rapeseed oil + ethanol (DRE) blends and diesel fuel + soybean oil + ethanol (DSE) blends at different engine speeds and full load operating conditions and the results were compared with neat diesel fuel. In each test, brake torque, brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC), smoke level, carbon monoxide (CO), unburned hydrocarbons (HC) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions were measured. The experimental results indicated that blends of No. 2 diesel fuel and ethanol with rapeseed oil or soybean oil methyl esters can be used in a DI diesel engine without any modification. According to obtained results, brake torque was decreased and the BSFC was increased with DRE and DSE fuel blends because of their lower heating value. Smoke level and CO and HC emissions were decreased. However, NOx emissions were increased with blends of DRE and DSE compared to neat diesel fuel.   Key Words: Diesel engine, alternative fuels, rapeseed oil, soybean oil, ethanol.

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