Optimizing Performance and Sustainability: A Comprehensive Analysis of an Internal Combustion Engine Powered by Tire and Biomass Pyrolysis Oil

Abstract

The effective management of waste tires poses a critical and urgent challenge in today's environmental landscape. These discarded tires endure an astonishing degradation period of approximately 600 years, emphasizing the need to urgently adopt techniques that expedite this process in an environmentally responsible manner to protect our planet. Tackling this issue involves exploring the conversion of waste tires into diesel fuel, a promising solution to mitigate the problem. Achieving sustainable progress requires a keen focus on the energy and exergy efficiency of systems, crucial aspects in this endeavor. Therefore, this study is dedicated to a comprehensive and sustainable assessment that compares conventional petroleum-derived diesel (diesel oil) with pyrolytic oils derived from rubber waste, inoperable tires, and Eucalyptus urograndis wood. These oils are intended for use in compression ignition internal combustion engines. The methodological framework of this work involves an in-depth exploration encompassing energy, exergy, and environmental analyses in a steady-state context. Using the Diesel RK software, combustion is simulated with fuel specifications sourced from established literature. The investigation is conducted within a Scania diesel stationary engine under varying scenarios. First, blends of tire pyrolysis oil (TPO) and diesel are examined, specifically in proportions of 10% TPO and 90% diesel, followed by 20% TPO and 80% diesel. Second, mixtures of Eucalyptus urograndis pyrolytic bio-oil (EPO) at ratios of 10% EPO and 90% diesel, as well as 20% EPO and 80% diesel, are considered. Lastly, the study examines the performance of conventional commercial diesel fuel. Through meticulous analysis, discernible outcomes emerge, revealing the energy and exergy performance characteristics. Notably, the parameters studied indicate a notable resemblance between diesel and TPO10 across all cases, with TPO10 emerging as the frontrunner in these analyses, closely followed by TPO20. Moreover, the study incorporates a sustainability perspective, highlighting opportunities for improvement, ecological metrics, and the emission profile of pollutants.