Effects of dimethyl carbonate fuel additive on diesel engine performances

The physical and chemical properties of some oxygenated compounds are discussed, including dimethoxymethane (methylal, or DMM), dimethyl carbonate (DMC), and ethyl acetate. In particular, DMC may be a promising additive for diesel fuel owing to its high oxygen content, no carbon-carbon atomic bonds, suitable boiling point, and solubility in diesel fuel. The aim of this research was to study the combustion characteristics and performance of diesel engines operating on diesel fuel mixed with DMC. The experimental results have shown that particulate matter (PM) emissions can be reduced using the DMC oxygenated compound. The combustion analysis indicated that the ignition delay of the engine fuelled with DMC-diesel blended fuel is longer, but combustion duration is much shorter, and the thermal efficiency is increased compared with that of a base diesel engine. Further, if injection is also delayed, NOx emissions can be reduced while PM emissions are still reduced significantly. The experimental study found that diesel engines fuelled with DMC additive had improved combustion and emission performances.