Effect of low reactivity fuels on dual fuel RCCI combustion in a light duty diesel engine

Abstract

Superior performance higher thermal efficiency and comparatively lesser cost of fuel make the use of diesel engines more prevalent in both transport and non transport applications The non-transport sectors such as agriculture implements industry Genset and other small utility applications are also using fossil fuels especially diesel fuel extensively The important emissions from the diesel engines are nitric oxides and soot which are exceedingly harmful to human health and the environment When researchers worked on reducing these emissions the thermal efficiency of the diesel engine drops So simultaneous reduction in emissions and improved efficiency has become essential Continuous depletion of oil reserves around the globe demands engines to use the alternate fuels Among the alternate fuels alcohols are widely researched and considered to be a promising alternative fuel because of its fuel properties and broader production resources Methanol and isobutanol are the two important alcohols that have the potential to be used as fuels in engines more importantly due to its lesser emissions when used in engines as fuel The recently developed Low Temperature Combustion LTC technology reduces emissions as well as improves efficiency simultaneously Among the LTC techniques researched worldwide Reactivity Controlled Compression Ignition RCCI combustion mode overcomes the limitations such as extending the operating load ranges difficulties in the controlling rate of heat release and combustion phasing with higher brake thermal efficiency and lesser emissions than other LTC modes such as HCCI and PCCI modes newline