The effects of exhaust gas re-circulation and injection timing on combustion performance and emissions of biodiesel and its blends with 2-methylfuran in a diesel engine

Abstract

In this study, the influences of injection timing and exhaust gas re-circulation on combustion and emissions characteristics of biodiesel/2-methylfuran blends are investigated on a modified water-cooled 4-cylinder four-stroke direct injection compression ignition engine. The experimental conditions are, respectively, to adjust injection timing and exhaust gas re-circulation ratio at 0.38 MPa break mean effective pressure with the engine speed at 1800 rpm constantly. With injection timing in advance, the peak cylinder pressure rose while maximum heat release rate first decreased and next slightly raised. Ignition delay and brake specific fuel consumption reduced first and then raised while combustion duration and break thermal efficiency had the opposite trend. The NOx emissions increased, and HC emissions first reduced significantly and then slightly increased, while 1,3-butadiene and acetaldehyde emissions presented a reduction tendency. As exhaust gas re-circulation ratio increased gradually, ignition delay as well as combustion duration was prolonged. brake specific fuel consumption increased and break thermal efficiency declined. HC, CO, 1,3-butadiene, and acetaldehyde emissions raised while NOx emissions reduced significantly. Biodiesel could behave well in a Diesel engine and thus a feasible alternative fuel for diesel. Moreover, methylfuran addition into biodiesel could raise break thermal efficiency and the break thermal efficiency of BM20 is higher than BM10. However, both BM10 and BM20 appeared a combustion deterioration when injection timing at 2.5 °CA before top head center.