Methanol Combustion Characteristics in Compression Ignition Engines: A Critical Review

Abstract

Methanol has been identified as a transition fuel for the decarbonisation of combustion-based industries, including automotive and maritime. This study aims to conduct a critical review of methanol combustion in compression ignition engines and analyse the reviewed studies’ results to quantify methanol use’s impact on engine performance and emissions characteristics. The diesel and diesel–methanol operation of these engines are comparatively assessed, demonstrating the trade-offs between the methanol fraction, the key engine performance parameters, including brake thermal efficiency, peak in-cylinder pressure, heat release rate, and temperature, as well as the carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter emissions. The types of the reviewed engines considering the main two combustion methods, namely premixed and diffusion combustion, are discussed. Research gaps are identified, and recommendations for future research directions to address existing challenges for the wider use of methanol as a marine fuel are provided. This comprehensive review provides insights supporting methanol engine operation, and it is expected to lead to further studies towards more efficient use of methanol-fueled marine engines.

Research of Energy Efficiency and Environmental Performance of Vehicle Power Plant Converted to Work on Alternative Fuels

“…The values obtained by us are close to the results of other engines that operated on methanol fuel. For example, the reduction in NO x emissions is recorded in the works [42,46]. In our opinion, the reduction in NOx emissions is due to significantly less oxygen in the air/methanol fuel mixture compared to the air/diesel fuel mixture.…”

“…The average cost of diesel in the EU ranges from 1.3 to 1.8 euro/L [41]. Methanol is currently identified as a transition fuel for industrial decarbonisation; among potential fuel alternatives (with significantly lower carbon content compared to diesel or gasoline), methanol is considered a short-to medium-term solution for decarbonisation [42]. However, the main powerful advantage of using a hydrogen mixture based on converted methanol in engines is the reduction in CO 2 emissions during the life cycle of methanol.…”