Experimental investigation on the performance, gaseous and particulate emissions of a methanol fumigated diesel engine

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 389; no. 1; pp. 115 - 124
• Main Authors: Cheng, C.H., Cheung, C.S., Chan, T.L., Lee, S.C., Yao, C.D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier B.V 15-01-2008; [Amsterdam; New York]: Elsevier Science; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Air Pollutants - analysis; Air. Soil. Water. Waste. Feeding; Applied sciences; Atmospheric pollution; Biological and medical sciences; Carbon Dioxide - analysis; Carbon Monoxide - analysis; Diesel engine; Environment. Living conditions; Exact sciences and technology; Gaseous emissions; Hydrocarbons - analysis; Medical sciences; Methanol; Methanol - chemistry; Motor Vehicles; Nitrogen Oxides - analysis; Nitrogen Oxides - chemistry; Oxygen - analysis; Particle Size; Particle size distribution; Particulate mass; Particulate Matter - analysis; Pollution; Pollution sources. Measurement results; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Transports; Ultra-low sulfur diesel; Vehicle Emissions - analysis; Asia; China; Diesel engine; Particle size distribution; Gaseous emissions; Particulate mass; Ultra-low sulfur diesel; Methanol; Diesel engine,Ultra-low sulfur diesel,Methanol,Particulate mass,Particle size distribution,Gaseous emissions; Alcohol; Air quality; Motor vehicle; Pollutant emission; Health and environment; Alternative motor fuel; Air pollution; Exhaust gas; Road traffic; Public health; Direct injection
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2007.08.041

Experiments were conducted on a 4-cylinder direct-injection diesel engine with fumigation methanol injected into the air intake of each cylinder. The fumigation methanol was injected to top up 10%, 20% and 30% of the power output under different engine operating conditions. The effects of fumigation methanol on engine performance, gaseous emissions and particulate emission were investigated. The experimental results show that there is a decrease in the brake thermal efficiency when fumigation methanol is applied, except at the highest load of 0.67 MPa. At low loads, the brake thermal efficiency decreases with increase in fumigation methanol; but at high loads, it increases with increase in fumigation methanol. The fumigation method results in a significant increase in hydrocarbon (HC), carbon monoxide (CO), and nitrogen dioxide (NO
2) emissions. The concentration of nitrogen oxides (NO
x) is significantly reduced except at close to full load condition. There is also a reduction in the smoke opacity and the particulate matter (PM) mass concentration. For the submicron particles, the total number of particles decreases at low and medium loads but increases at high loads. In all cases, there is a shift of the particles towards smaller geometrical mean diameter, especially at high loads. The increase in nano-sized particles and the increase in NO
2 emission could have serious impact on human health.