https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6637-9699
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ABSTRACT
Due to the consumption of fossil fuels and the generation of harmful emissions by diesel engines, researchers are seeking alternative fuels for diesel, for example, gas-to-liquid (GTL). However, most studies on combustion and emission of GTL focused on the fuel burned on turbocharged heavy-duty diesel engines. The purpose of this study is to reveal the combustion, fuel economy, and emission characteristics of GTL by a burner and a naturally aspirated (NA), fuel direct injection compression ignition light-duty engine. Comparative experiments of the GTL to fossil diesel were carried out, respectively. The burner has good consistency with the diesel engine in revealing emission trends. The results of the burner test showed that GTL produced less flame smoke and its flame height was 5.3% lower than diesel. The results of the engine bench test revealed that the combustion and emissions of the GTL with diesel were significantly different. Compared to diesel, the ignition of GTL began earlier from 1.5°CA to2.5°CA though the combustion was slower in contrast to diesel. The diffusion combustion maximum pressure was considerably 4.8% higher and occurred earlier with 2.2°CA-3°CA, and the premixed combustion peak pressure of GTL was slightly beyond the diesel. The peak of premixed combustion heat release rate (HRR) for GTL was less than that of diesel by 18.9%. While the peak HRR of diffusion combustion was greater by 38.4%. The maximum PRR value of GTL was lower than that of diesel leading to soft combustion. In all test conditions, the brake specific fuel consumption of GTL averagely reduced by 4.7% against diesel, and the brake thermal efficiency was on average 4.3% higher. GTL engine can reduce regular emissions of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxide (NOx), smoke, and particle number (PN) simultaneously. It is worth noting that GTL improved the trade-off issue of NOx and smoke, simultaneously reducing 18.8% NOx and 24.1% smoke on average. The experimental results reveal the GTL is an appropriate alternative fuel for light-duty diesel engine without modification of mechanical fuel system.
Nomenclature
| B | = | Fuel mass flow (kg/h) |
| be | = | Brake fuel consumption rate (g/kW·h) |
| BMEP | = | Brake mean effective pressure (MPa) |
| BSFC | = | Brake Specific Fuel Consumption (g/kW·h) |
| BTDC | = | Before top dead center (°Crank angle) |
| BTE | = | Brake Thermal Efficiency (%) |
| BTL | = | Biomass-to-liquid |
| CA | = | Crank angle |
| CCD | = | Charge-Coupled Device |
| C/H | = | Carbon/hydrogen |
| CI | = | Compression ignition |
| CO | = | Carbon monoxide |
| CTL | = | Coal-to-liquid |
| DME | = | Dimethyl ether |
| F-T | = | Fischer-Tropsch |
| GTL | = | Gas-to-liquid |
| HC | = | Hydrocarbon |
| HRR | = | Heat release rate (kJ/°CA) |
| LHV | = | Lower heating value (MJ/kg) |
| NOx | = | Nitrogen oxide |
| OME | = | Polyoxymethylene dimethyl ethers |
| PAHs | = | Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons |
| Pe | = | Effective power (kW) |
| PM | = | Particulate Matter |
| PN | = | Particle number (/cm3) |
| ppm | = | Parts per million |
| PRR | = | Pressure rise rate |
| rpm | = | Revolutions per minute |
| SOF | = | Soluble organic matter |
| T90 | = | 90% distillation (℃) |
| TDC | = | Top dead center |
| ULSD | = | Ultra-low sulfur diesel |
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Additional information
Funding
Notes on contributors
Tao Wu
Tao Wu received his Ph.D. degree in Power Machinery and Engineering from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China. He is currently a Vice Professor with the Shanghai University of Engineering Science. His main research interest includes combustion and emission of internal combustion engine.
Wugao Zhang
Wugao Zhang received his Ph.D. degree in Petroleum and Natural Gas Machinery from China University of Petroleum, Beijing. He is currently a Vice Professor with the Shanghai Jiao Tong University. His areas of interest are combustion and pollution generation and prevention, alternative fuels for internal combustion engines and friction and wear in internal combustion engines.
Haiyong Peng
Haiyong Peng received his Ph.D. degree in Power Machinery and Engineering from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China. He is currently a Vice Professor with the Shanghai University of Engineering Science. His main research interests include control strategy and fault diagnosis of the internal combustion engine.
Haibo Zhang
Haibo Zhang received his Master degree in Power Machinery and Engineering from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China. He is presently working as a lecturer at Shanghai University of Engineering Science. His main research interest focuses on IC engine performance and emissions.
Jun Shen
Jun Shen received his Ph.D. degree in Power Engineering and Engineering Thermophysics from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China. He is currently a Vice Professor with the Shanghai University of Engineering Science. His areas of interest are low carbon combustion, organic solid waste resource utilization and new energy thermochemical conversion and utilization.
Shengxiang Deng
Shengxiang Deng received his Ph.D. degree of Thermal Power Engineering from Central South University, Hunan, China. He is currently a Professor with the Shanghai University of Engineering Science. His main research interests include new energy and energy-saving technologies, visual simulation and intelligent control, thermal process detection and parameter soft measurement, energy planning, energy-saving evaluation and energy audit.