Impacts of fusel oil-diesel blends fuel on exhaust emissions of single-cylinder CI engine

Abstract

Alcohol-based fuels, namely fusel oil, have garnered considerable interest as viable alternatives owing to their manufacturing, accessibility, and environmental advantages. This study's main objective is to ascertain how effectively a compression ignition (CI) engine operates and how much pollution it emits when running at various loads and speeds on a mixture of fusel oil and diesel (known as "F20"). To ensure the engine's fuel system remained unaltered, a set blending ratio of 20% v/v was used. The experimental findings demonstrated a reduction in nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions while using F20 in comparison to diesel, but it was observed that fuel consumption rose. The decreased energy content of fusel oil resulted in a reduction in fuel usage. Nevertheless, the use of F20 resulted in elevated emissions of CO and HC in comparison to diesel. The highest observed decrease in NOx emissions, up to 20%, was seen at an engine speed of 1500 revolutions per minute (rpm) and an engine load of 75%. This reduction may be due to the elevated water content present in fusel oil.