Effect of sulphur and vanadium spiked fuels on particle characteristics and engine performance of auxiliary diesel engines

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) Vol. 243; no. Pt B; pp. 1943 - 1951
• Main Authors: Chu Van, Thuy, Ristovski, Zoran, Surawski, Nicholas, Bodisco, Timothy A., Rahman, S.M.Ashrafur, Alroe, Joel, Miljevic, Branka, Hossain, Farhad M., Suara, Kabir, Rainey, Thomas, Brown, Richard J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2018
• Subjects: Air Pollutants - analysis; Gasoline - analysis; Humans; Particle chemical composition; Particle size distribution; Particulate Matter - analysis; Particulate Matter - chemistry; Rate of heat release; Ships; Sulfur - analysis; Sulphur; Vanadium; Vanadium - analysis; Vehicle Emissions - analysis; Particle chemical composition; Particle size distribution; Rate of heat release; Sulphur; Vanadium
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2018.08.055

Particle emission characteristics and engine performance were investigated from an auxiliary, heavy duty, six-cylinder, turbocharged and after-cooled diesel engine with a common rail injection system using spiked fuels with different combinations of sulphur (S) and vanadium (V) spiking. The effect of fuel S content on both particle number (PN) and mass (PM) was clearly observed in this study. Higher PN and PM were observed for fuels with higher S contents at all engine load conditions. This study also found a correlation between fuel S content and nucleation mode particle number concentration which have more harmful impact on human health than larger particles. The highest PN and PM were observed at partial load conditions. In addition, S in fuel resulted in higher viscosity of spiked fuels, which led to lower engine blow-by. Fuel V content was observed in this study, evidencing that it had no clear effect on engine performance and emissions. Increased engine load also resulted in higher engine blow-by. The lower peak of in-cylinder pressure observed at both pre-mixed and diffusion combustion phases with the spiked fuels may be associated with the lower energy content in the fuel blends compared to diesel fuel. [Display omitted] •Fuel sulphur content resulted in particle number, mass and sulphate fraction increase.•Higher particle number and mass observed at lower engine load conditions.•Higher viscosity of spiked fuels strongly associated with lower engine blow-by.•Heat release curves affected by fuel properties (calorific values, cetane number).•Auxiliary engines at partial load significantly contribute to particle emissions at berth.