Experimental study of using biodiesel and low cetane alcohol as the pilot fuel on the performance and emission trade-off study in the diesel/compressed natural gas dual fuel combustion mode

• Published in: Energy (Oxford) 2021-06, Vol.225, p.120218, Article 120218
• Main Authors: Jatoth, Ramachander, Gugulothu, Santhosh Kumar, Ravi kiran Sastry, G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Additives; Air pollution; Biodiesel; Biodiesel fuels; Biofuels; Carbon monoxide; CNG; Combustion; Common rail; Compressed gas; Compressed natural gas; CRDI engine; Diesel; Diesel engines; Dual fuel; Emission analysis; Fuel combustion; Hexadecane; Natural gas; Nitrogen oxides; Pollutants; Thermodynamic efficiency; Tradeoffs; Triacetin; Vehicle emissions
• ISSN: 0360-5442; 1873-6785
• DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2021.120218

Increasing demand for fast depleting diesel in various transport applications with a rise in vehicular exhaust emissions led many countries to research on alternative economic fuels. This paper deals with the study of compressed natural gas (CNG) and Schleicher oleosa oil methyl ester (SOME) with diesel as pilot fuel and triacetin as an additive on the emission, combustion and performance characteristics of a four stroke, single cylinder, common rail direct injection diesel engine working at a constant speed and varying operating scenarios. Majority of the input energy is provided by CNG when triacetin is used in pilot operation rather than diesel. The experimental study revealed that, as compared to traditional CNG + diesel (dual fuel), CNG + triacetin combination the number of harmful pollutants like smoke (5.38%), hydrocarbon (6.39%), carbon monoxide (10.24%) and oxides of nitrogen, has reduced to a considerable extent and there was a commendable improvement in the brake thermal efficiency by 8.8%. A trade-off study conducted concludes that the low emission high-performance paradox can be resolved through the dual-fuel operation with CNG + triacetin blend. So, we can summarize that when CNG and triacetin additives are blended together the combustion and performance of the engine was improved considerably and pollutant emissions were decreased. •Diesel blending with SOME and Triacetin as pilot fuels in the dual fuel engine with CNG were investigated.•Schleichera oleosa oil is identified as a novel feedstock.•Triacetin + CNG can improve the NOx-CO trade off.•NOx, CO and HC emissions were found to be lower in triacetin + CNG while BTE increased to 7.8%.