Effect of adding dimethyl carbonate and gasoline to diesel fuel plus corn oil blend on performance and combustion characteristics of a diesel engine

Diesel fuel and corn oil are mixed in the 80:20 volumetric ratio. Dimethyl carbonate and gasoline are added to diesel fuel + corn oil blend in 4:96, 6:94, 8:92, and 10:90 volumetric ratios to obtain ternary blends. Effects of ternary blends on the performance and combustion characteristics of a diesel engine are investigated under different engine speeds (1000-2500 rpm). 3D Lagrange interpolation method is applied to measured data of dimethyl carbonate blends to predict the engine speed, blending ratio, and crank angle giving maximum peak pressure and peak heat release rate. On average, dimethyl carbonate blends and gasoline blends show 4.3642-12.1578% and 1.0323-8.6843% reduction in effective power, and 1.4938-3.4322% and 4.3357-8.7188% reduction in effective efficiency, respectively, relative to diesel fuel. On average, there is a reduction in cylinder peak pressure (4.6701-7.3418%; 4.0457-6.2025%) and peak heat release rate (0.8020-4.5627%; 0.4-1.2654%) for dimethyl carbonate blends and gasoline blends, respectively, compared to diesel fuel. Because of low relative errors (1.0551% and 1.4553%), 3D Lagrange provides well accuracy in the prediction of maximum peak pressure and peak heat release rate. On average, dimethyl carbonate blends produce less CO (7.4744-17.5424%), HC (15.5410-29.5501%) and smoke (14.1767-25.2834%) emissions, compared with diesel fuel.

Automated summary

This study investigates the effects of ternary blends of diesel fuel and corn oil mixed in an 80:20 volumetric ratio with dimethyl carbonate and gasoline on the performance and combustion characteristics of a diesel engine. The results show reductions in effective power, effective efficiency, cylinder peak pressure, and peak heat release rate for the blends compared to diesel fuel. Additionally, the ternary blends produce lower CO, HC, and smoke emissions.