Effects of EGR combined with DOC on emission characteristics of a two-stage injected Fischer-Tropsch diesel/methanol dual-fuel engine

Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) diesel and methanol are widely regarded as promising clean alternative fuels for engines. The emergence of reactivity controlled compression ignition (RCCI) combustion mode provides new approaches to the application of F-T diesel and methanol in diesel engines, but there is a pressing need to further reduce engine emissions. To this end, a dual-fuel engine test bench was built based on a high-pressure common rail diesel engine with a methanol injection system at the intake manifold combined with a two-stage in-cylinder direct injection (pre-injection + main injection) F-T diesel. The combined effects of methanol substitution ratio (MSR), exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) and diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) on the combustion and emission characteristics of the dual-fuel engine was investigated at 2000 rpm and 75 % load. The results show that EGR improves the combustion characteristics of the F-T diesel/methanol dual-fuel engine while adding a DOC significantly reduces engine gaseous emissions. However, as the MSR and EGR rate increase, NOx emissions decrease, but other emissions increase. NOx emissions were reduced by 73 % compared to the original engine emissions for an MSR of 30 % and an EGR rate of 15 % without a DOC. When the MSR is 0 %, the DOC promotes the conversion of NO to NO2. While, when the MSR greater than 0, the DOC promotes the conversion of NO2 to NO. When equipped with a DOC, CO, NO, NO2, NOx, MeOH, and HCHO emissions decrease as the EGR rate increases, with the reduction of CO and MeOH emissions being greater than 99.5 % and 93 %, respectively, and the maximum conversion efficiency for HCHO emissions being 82 %. The present study showcases the key challenges as well as advantages in the use of EGR combined with a DOC assisting the application of coal-based alternative fuels in dual-fuel engines.

Automated summary

This study investigates the application of methanol and F-T diesel in dual-fuel engines and finds that EGR improves combustion characteristics while DOC significantly reduces gaseous emissions. However, other emissions increase as the MSR and EGR rate increase. When equipped with a DOC, CO, NO, NO2, NOx, MeOH, and HCHO emissions decrease as the EGR rate increases, with the reduction rate of CO and MeOH emissions being over 99.5% and 93% respectively.