Evaluation of Using Biogas to Supply the Dual Fuel Diesel Engine of an Agricultural Tractor

Abstract

It is known that biogas without prior purification to biomethane is a commonly used fuel only for the stationary internal combustion engines but not for vehicle engines. The current study evaluates the use of biogas without its prior upgrading to biomethane as fuel for tractor engines. The following tests were carried out: biochemical methane potential tests, dynamometer engine tests, and field tests with the use of a tractor. The average methane content in biogas obtained from vegetable wastes exceeded 60%. The tests performed on the engine dynamometer showed that the engine powered by dual fuel worked stably when diesel was replaced by 40% biogas (containing 50% of CO2) or 30% methane. Dual fuel supplying of the engine caused an increase in the concentration of hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide in the exhaust gases and a decrease or no effect in the concentration of particulate matter and nitrogen oxides. It did not significantly affect the dynamics of the vehicle and its useful properties. Biogas that contains a maximum of 50% CO2 and from which H2S, moisture, and siloxanes have been largely removed, is suitable as a fuel for tractors. Such biogas can be obtained in biogas plants from different substrates, e.g., vegetable or agriculture wastes as well as biodegradable municipal wastes.

Effects of Pig Manure and Corn Straw Generated Biogas and Methane Enriched Biogas on Performance and Emission Characteristics of Dual Fuel Diesel Engines

“…Similar decreases in PM emission for biogas-diesel fuels were reported by H.S. Tira [59] and Owczuk et al [34].…”

“…Lounici et al [33] reported that the high proportion of CO 2 present in biogas significantly reduces NO X and PM. Owczuk et al [34] found that biogas containing up to 50% CO 2 can be applicable as a tractor fuel.…”

Elevated biogas production from the anaerobic co-digestion of farmhouse waste: Insight into the process performance and kinetics

“…The versatile use of biogas as well as the production of valuable bio-fertiliser will play a key role in the agricultural chain. However, there are ambiguous facets not clearly investigated, namely the case of multiple waste streams, microbiome, or end-products (Baek et al, 2018; Éles et al, 2019; Huang et al, 2017; Koç et al, 2019; Owczuk et al, 2019; Xu et al, 2017).…”

Valorisation of Agri- and Aquaculture Residues via Biogas Production for Enhanced Industrial Application

“…In addition, in some countries, such schemes are even expiring without successors being introduced. One of the applications might be the use of biomethane as transport fuel [41] because long-haul transport segments such as the maritime industry are hard to electrify in a short-to-medium term, and, as such, they offer an ideal destination for the valorisation of the available biogas streams [42]. Furthermore, the maritime industry will soon be included in the EU's climate action policies and regulations by which the demand for sustainable solutions will grow significantly.…”