A Review Study on the Using of Diethyl Ether in Diesel Engines: Effects on Fuel Properties and Engine Performance

This study was compiled from the results of various researches performed on using diethyl ether as a fuel or fuel additive in diesel engines. Three different techniques are used the reduction of the harmful exhaust emissions of diesel engines. The first technique for the reduction of harmful emissions is improved the combustion by modification of engine design and fuel injection system, but this process is expensive and time consuming. The second technique is the using various exhaust gas devices like catalytic converter and diesel particulate filter. However, the use of these devices affects negatively diesel engine performance. The final technique to reduce emissions and also improve diesel engine performance is the use of various alternative fuels or fuel additives. The major pollutants of diesel engines are oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and particulate matter (PM). It is very difficult to reduce NOx and PM simultaneously in practice. The most researches declare that the best way to reduce is the use of various alternative fuels i.e. natural gas, biogas, biodiesel or using the additives with alternative fuels or conventional diesel fuel. Therefore, it is very important that the results of various studies on alternative fuels or fuel additives are evaluated together to practice applications. Especially, this study focus on the use diethyl ether in diesel engines as fuel or fuel additive in various diesel engine fuels. This review study investigates the effects of diethyl ether addition on the fuel properties and performance characteristics.