Impact of alternative fuels on performance and pollutant emissions of a light duty engine tested under the new European driving cycle

• Published in: Applied energy Vol. 107; pp. 183 - 190
• Main Authors: Armas, Octavio, García-Contreras, Reyes, Ramos, Ángel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Alternative fuels; animal fats and oils; Applied sciences; Biodiesel; catalysts; Common rail; compressors; cooling; Diesel engine; Diesel engines; Emission analysis; emissions; Emissions control; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Engines; Engines and turbines; Equipments for energy generation and conversion: thermal, electrical, mechanical energy, etc; Exact sciences and technology; GTL; New European Driving Cycle (NEDC); nitrogen oxides; oxidation; Pollutant emissions; pollutants; Reduction; temperature; Pollutant emissions; Diesel engine; Biodiesel; New European Driving Cycle (NEDC); GTL; Alternative fuel; Diesel fuel; Biofuel; Performance; Pollutant emission
• ISSN: 0306-2619; 1872-9118
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2013.01.064

► Effect of animal fat biodiesel and GTL fuels on pollutant emissions under controlled NEDC has been studied. ► Regulated gaseous emissions were determined to evaluate the effect of alternative fuels along urban and extraurban cycles. ► The potential of fuels was also quantified through the measurements of smoke opacity and particle concentration. ► Reduction in particulate matter has been observed with the use of GTL and biodiesel fuels. Two alternative fuels, a gas to liquid (GTL) fuel from a low temperature Fischer–Tropsch process and a biodiesel produced from animal fats, have been tested using a light duty diesel engine with road load simulation (RLS) under the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC). The engine used has a variable geometry turbocharger (VGT), exhaust gas recirculation with cooling (EGR), common rail with split fuel injection and diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC). Regulated emissions have been evaluated and noticeable reductions in THC and CO were observed with both alternative fuels whereas only slight decrease was obtained in NOx emissions with biodiesel. With respect to results on particle matter, important reductions in both particle number and particle mass were obtained with both alternative fuels.